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Mountain State Spotlight
As coal companies point fingers, Wyoming County residents say they’re being poisoned by a contaminated creek
PINEVILLE — As they drive a truck hauling bottled water along the twists and turns of Route 16, Richard Altizer and James Christian point out the sights along Indian Creek. There’s where slimy film continues to stick to foul-smelling water. There’s where people’s pets and livestock have died. And there’s the place where they gutted […] As coal companies point fingers, Wyoming County residents say they’re being poisoned by a contaminated creek appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
How the Legislature failed to improve West Virginia’s deadly jails during the 2024 session
On Feb. 9, 20-year-old Desarae Godsey died during a stint at the Southern Regional Jail, adding another name to the growing list of people who have died at West Virginia’s deadliest jail. An hour west on I-64 and a day earlier, delegates on the House Committee on Jails and Prisons sat around a large conference […] How the Legislature failed to improve West Virginia’s deadly jails during the 2024 session appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
This West Virginia official worked to limit the power of federal environmental regulators. Now President Biden is making her a federal environmental regulator
President Joe Biden has nominated a West Virginia official who successfully worked to limit federal greenhouse gas regulations on power plants to the commission that regulates the nation’s oil and gas projects. On Thursday, West Virginia Solicitor General Lindsay See appeared before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Joe […] This West Virginia official worked to limit the power of federal environmental regulators. Now President Biden is making her a federal environmental regulator appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Federal judges ask West Virginia Supreme Court to weigh in on opioids case
A federal appeals panel wants the state court to decide if Huntington and Cabell County can use public nuisance law to hold drug distributors accountable for the community’s overdose crisis. Federal judges ask West Virginia Supreme Court to weigh in on opioids case appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia regulators agree to consider whether Corridor H could ‘go north,’ amid push from community groups
The Division of Highways will consider an alternative, northern route that bypasses the towns of Thomas and Davis along with its preferred route despite being unwilling to do so in the past. West Virginia regulators agree to consider whether Corridor H could ‘go north,’ amid push from community groups appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
The federal government gave West Virginia $525,000 to prevent gun deaths. The state’s returning almost all of it
In 2020, the West Virginia health department asked the CDC for money to collect firearm injury data and prevent future gun violence. But those gun violence prevention strategies never materialized. The federal government gave West Virginia $525,000 to prevent gun deaths. The state’s returning almost all of it appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Four takeaways from West Virginia’s new budget
Another flat budget shorts urgent needs, but does include pay raises amid uncertainty about money the state may owe the federal government. Four takeaways from West Virginia’s new budget appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
How lawmakers did — and didn’t — address West Virginia’s major challenges during the 2024 legislative session
Bills to raise teacher pay and cut unemployment benefits made it across, as well as a leaner state budget. Here’s what else lawmakers accomplished, and what issues went largely unaddressed. How lawmakers did — and didn’t — address West Virginia’s major challenges during the 2024 legislative session appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia voters could see fewer candidates on their ballot under bill passed by Legislature
A bill that would essentially do away with party appointments for vacancies on the ballot is on its way to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. During the last day of the regular session, the House approved HB 4350 by a vote of 80-15 after accepting minor tweaks by the Senate. If no […] West Virginia voters could see fewer candidates on their ballot under bill passed by Legislature appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Bill making it easier for teachers to suspend elementary school students close to becoming law
West Virginia lawmakers are headed toward again giving teachers more power to remove disruptive students from classrooms, even as state education officials are looking for ways to keep vulnerable kids in school. Over the last couple of years, state education officials have been trying to reduce school suspensions. Children with disabilities, students in foster care, […] Bill making it easier for teachers to suspend elementary school students close to becoming law appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia child labor bill to eliminate teen work permits is likely dead
The West Virginia Senate has quietly killed a child labor bill eliminating teen work permits for 14 and 15-year-olds and replacing them with a certificate that requires less detailed information. Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee where the bill currently sits, said it would not run this session. “We never had […] West Virginia child labor bill to eliminate teen work permits is likely dead appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia lawmakers approve $1.56 million payment for wrongfully convicted McDowell County man
All that stands between a McDowell County man who was wrongfully imprisoned for a decade and a half and a $1.56 million payment for the time he spent behind bars is the governor’s signature. On Friday, the House of Delegates unanimously passed the annual claims bill. In most years, the bill just includes payments for […] West Virginia lawmakers approve $1.56 million payment for wrongfully convicted McDowell County man appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Legislative auditor would answer to Senate President and House Speaker under bill nearing passage
The top leaders in the West Virginia Legislature would have tighter control of the Legislative Auditor’s Office if a bill passed Thursday clears one final legislative hurdle and is signed into law. The House of Delegates passed SB 687 by a vote of 56-41, with dozens of Republicans crossing party lines to vote against the […] Legislative auditor would answer to Senate President and House Speaker under bill nearing passage appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginians with disabilities remain institutionalized in mental hospitals. State officials have done little to get them out
As the 2024 legislative session concludes, dozens of people who health providers say are ready for release remain indefinitely institutionalized at state mental hospitals. State health officials have been told for years that people who should be living in homes are increasingly being unjustly confined to state psychiatric hospitals. And last year, lawmakers commissioned studies […] West Virginians with disabilities remain institutionalized in mental hospitals. State officials have done little to get them out appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Lawmakers are closer than ever to criminalizing marital rape, sexual abuse in West Virginia
Last year, efforts to eliminate language in state law that exempted spouses from the definition of sexual assault or abuse failed in the final days of the session. Now a similar bill is one vote away from the Governor’s desk. Lawmakers are closer than ever to criminalizing marital rape, sexual abuse in West Virginia appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
A last-minute bill to cut unemployment benefits has lawmakers confused. They’re rushing it through anyway
As the House Finance Committee began discussing a quickly-drafted unemployment bill on Monday, it quickly became apparent that lawmakers were going to have lots of questions. Within minutes, the committee hit its first roadblock: How much are unemployment benefits? Questions continued over the course of three and a half hours on Monday, as the committee […] A last-minute bill to cut unemployment benefits has lawmakers confused. They’re rushing it through anyway appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Senate quietly resurrects bill that would prevent judges from releasing defendants charged with a felony without bail
Magistrate judges can release certain felony charge defendants pretrial on a personal recognizance bond, which doesn’t require posting bail. After a bill prohibiting the practice was rejected by a House committee, the Senate slipped the language into another bill. Senate quietly resurrects bill that would prevent judges from releasing defendants charged with a felony without bail appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
As lawmakers figure out how to budget for a potential $465 million federal clawback, here’s what you need to know
While issues like arming teachers and school discipline have sucked air out of the room this session, education funding snapped into sharp focus last week as West Virginia lawmakers hashed out the state budget. The federal government could potentially ask the state to give back $465 million in money that went towards education during the […] As lawmakers figure out how to budget for a potential $465 million federal clawback, here’s what you need to know appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Money for West Virginia’s flood mitigation efforts hangs in the balance as lawmakers hammer out state budget
Lawmakers in the House and the Senate disagree on a $50 million funding request from Gov. Justice to fund projects that could make West Virginia more resilient to flooding — and save money and lives down the line. Money for West Virginia’s flood mitigation efforts hangs in the balance as lawmakers hammer out state budget appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Justice said there’s ‘tons of work to do’ to fix West Virginia’s foster care system. So what are lawmakers doing?
Gov. Justice and some lawmakers say more needs to be done to fix West Virginia's foster care system. But legislation currently on the table likely won't address a CPS worker shortage or changes called for in a class action lawsuit against the state. Justice said there’s ‘tons of work to do’ to fix West Virginia’s foster care system. So what are lawmakers doing? appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
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