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West Virginia Watch
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year
WASHINGTON — Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law. The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldn’t […] The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts’ sunset
WASHINGTON — The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities. Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be “a reflection of what your […] The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts’ sunset appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and “raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.” The massive five-year […] The post USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Morgantown repeals panhandling ordinance
The city of Morgantown has repealed a panhandling ordinance that made it the target of a lawsuit filed last month by a legal advocacy organization. Morgantown City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to repeal the 2005 ordinance that prohibits the solicitation of people traveling in vehicles on public rights-of-way. Mountain State Justice filed the lawsuit […] The post Morgantown repeals panhandling ordinance appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception — a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday […] The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
States need to keep PFAS ’forever chemicals’ out of the water. It won’t be cheap.
In recent years, Michigan has spent tens of millions of dollars to limit residents’ exposure to the harmful “forever chemicals” called PFAS. And some cities there have spent millions of their own to filter contaminated drinking water or connect to new, less-polluted sources. “We’ve made significant investments to get up to speed,” said Abigail Hendershott, […] The post States need to keep PFAS ’forever chemicals’ out of the water. It won’t be cheap. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House gives in to Senate on disabilities funding bill, which wouldn’t mandate how $180M is spent
A sharp disagreement between the West Virginia House and Senate nearly tabled a bill that would give $180 million to the Department of Human Services to use for programs that help people with disabilities. Ultimately, after a stand off between the two Republican-supermajority chambers, the House of Delegates opted on Tuesday to accept the Senate’s […] The post House gives in to Senate on disabilities funding bill, which wouldn’t mandate how $180M is spent appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
As tensions rise between Senate and House, lawmakers OK transferring funds for college aid
While obstacles remain on the federal level for college-bound students to access financial aid, the West Virginia Legislature during this week’s special session approved two bills that will provide state funding for certain students come the fall semester. The funding comes about three weeks after Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency due to […] The post As tensions rise between Senate and House, lawmakers OK transferring funds for college aid appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Gun safety group, U.S. Senate architects of 2022 law call for stricter measures
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and a coalition of medical officers advocated Tuesday for Congress to pass stronger gun safety laws. Congress should build on the 2022 gun control law following high-profile mass shootings, Durbin, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy and about 80 members of OnCall4Kids, a group of doctors and health care […] The post Gun safety group, U.S. Senate architects of 2022 law call for stricter measures appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump signals he’s open to state limits on contraceptive access, then insists he’s not
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for president, suggested during a taped interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station Tuesday that he might be open to states restricting access to contraceptives, though he later appeared to backtrack. “We’re looking at that and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly […] The post Trump signals he’s open to state limits on contraceptive access, then insists he’s not appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes
WASHINGTON — The end of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is in sight as Donald Trump’s defense team rested its case Tuesday in Manhattan, where jurors have heard weeks of testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses about Trump’s alleged reimbursement of hush money meant to silence a porn star before the […] The post Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate Dems tie state abortion bans to fewer beginning physicians
WASHINGTON — Bans or severe restrictions on abortion access enacted by Republican state lawmakers have led to a downturn in medical students seeking to practice in those states, and a handful of Democratic U.S. senators said Tuesday those laws must be reversed. During a press conference just steps from the U.S. Capitol, the lawmakers and […] The post U.S. Senate Dems tie state abortion bans to fewer beginning physicians appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
National Guard no longer staffing state’s jails and prisons, official says
Nearly two years after a state of emergency was issued over staffing levels in West Virginia’s correctional facilities, the West Virginia National Guard is no longer staffing the state’s jails and prisons, lawmakers were told Tuesday. The National Guard was out of the jail facilities as of May 10, said William Marshall, commissioner of the […] The post National Guard no longer staffing state’s jails and prisons, official says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
As a key labor union pushes into the South, red states push back
Just days before workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama began voting last week on whether to unionize, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a new law that would claw back state incentives from companies that voluntarily recognize labor unions. Alabama’s move follows similar efforts in Georgia and Tennessee, where GOP leaders also have passed laws […] The post As a key labor union pushes into the South, red states push back appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to announce in New Hampshire on Tuesday that 1 million claims have been granted for benefits under the toxic exposure law that Congress approved less than two years ago, following the military’s use of open air burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. The law, approved with broad bipartisan […] The post Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports. “USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement. […] The post U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Funding for people with disabilities in doubt as House takes stand against Senate
The House of Delegates on Monday refused to accept a Senate bill regarding funding for people with disabilities, citing the legislation’s failure to mandate how the troubled Department of Human Services spend the money. Senate Bill 1001 would give the DoHS and the Department of Health $188 million in reserve funds to use as needed. […] The post Funding for people with disabilities in doubt as House takes stand against Senate appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled
NEW YORK — New York state prosecutors rested their case against Donald Trump Monday after four days of testimony from their key witness, Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who says the former president was well aware of a hush money cover-up. The defense paints Cohen as a liar. The Manhattan criminal trial, the first ever […] The post Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Gubernatorial candidate Williams presents ‘reproductive freedom’ resolution to lawmakers
With a special legislative session underway, Huntington mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams on Monday delivered to lawmakers a petition to add an abortion ballot measure to the list of issues legislators will address. The petition has 2,505 signatures, and asks Gov. Jim Justice to add reproductive rights to the special legislative agenda so […] The post Gubernatorial candidate Williams presents ‘reproductive freedom’ resolution to lawmakers appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF
WASHINGTON — Two Republican U.S. senators have teamed up to try to prevent states from banning in vitro fertilization, months after the Alabama state Supreme Court upended access to the procedure by ruling fertilized embryos were children under state law. Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas introduced a three-page bill on […] The post U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
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West Virginia Watch is an independent, nonpartisan news service based in Charleston. Our journalists will hold public officials and agencies accountable, and inform West Virginians of what’s going on behind closed doors. We focus on issues that affect our state every day – such as poverty, access to health care, the foster care system – with an aim of filling the gaps in coverage caused by shrinking newsrooms. The Watch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit network supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence. West Virginia Watch is free to read without paywalls or subscription fees.
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