This week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the state will extend its “donor agreement” to keep open the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

At $7,000 a day, Morrisey is likely correct that such a decision is worth the money, given the consequences if New River was to be closed for Bridge Day, or visitors were disappointed when they tried to visit our parks during what should be peak leaf-viewing season.

“The political gridlock in Washington, it’s hurting a lot of people, but we took swift action in one area where we felt we could mitigate the effects of the shutdown, and that’s protecting our beautiful national parks,” Morrisey said. It is encouraging to see Morrisey’s administration understand how heavily West Virginia’s economic w

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