Columbus
West Virginia Watch
U.S. Senate Dems launch renewed push for full marijuana legalization
Leading U.S. Senate Democrats reintroduced a bill Wednesday to remove marijuana from the list of federal controlled substances, following the Biden administration’s move a day earlier to significantly ease regulations on the drug. The post U.S. Senate Dems launch renewed push for full marijuana legalization appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice’s FAFSA state of emergency already helping students qualify for financial aid
Since Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over the federal student aid form fiasco, state higher education officials have identified thousands of students who will be able to receive in-state financial help. A botched federal rollout of a new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has put applications in limbo. The post Justice’s FAFSA state of emergency already helping students qualify for financial aid appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson
Two U.S. House Republicans, aggrieved by Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisanship amid divided government, said Wednesday they plan to force a vote next week on removing him from the leadership office — despite the extremely long odds of success. The post Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fix it or nix it: Future of Charleston Municipal Auditorium hangs in the balance
February 5 was a dark day for the West Virginia chapter of the Kevin Hart fan club. That’s the day Charleston shut down its Municipal Auditorium over electrical and structural issues, forcing all upcoming events to be canceled, rescheduled or moved to other venues. That included the pint-sized comedian’s April 13 date, as well as […] The post Fix it or nix it: Future of Charleston Municipal Auditorium hangs in the balance appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice declares state of emergency over FAFSA issues
Citing issues with the federal government’s rollout of a new application for student aid, Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and suspended a requirement that college-bound high school seniors fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to receive state financial aid, including the Promise Scholarship and the Higher Education Grant Program. The FAFSA form is required for applying for federal student aid and used to determine a student’s financial need. The form recently went through a top-to-bottom overhaul — its first massive revamp in more than 40 years — in an effort to streamline the process. The post Justice declares state of emergency over FAFSA issues appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice doubles down on EPA criticism in face of new rules for coal, gas power plants
In a sprawling speech painting a near-apocalyptic image of West Virginia’s future if the policies stand, Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday doubled down on his vow to fight new federal rules meant to limit pollution and emissions from coal-fired power plants across the nation. The new rules, released by the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, require coal-fired power plants to reduce or capture 90% of their greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Last week, the state’s entire congressional delegation, along with other Republican state leaders, pushed back against the new rule and promised that it won’t go into effect without a fight. The post Justice doubles down on EPA criticism in face of new rules for coal, gas power plants appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide
Donald Trump is planning to release more details in the weeks ahead about how his administration would regulate access to medication abortion, according to comments he made during a lengthy interview with Time magazine published Tuesday. The post Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Political campaigns, please lose my phone number
You can’t escape them. They’re on TV and streaming services. Their signs are on every corner. They’re mailing you eight-page glossy magazines for some reason. And now they’re texting you. The politicians have gotten our phone numbers. And I hate it. Ding! Oh, maybe my friend wants to get dinner or sent me a funny […] The post Political campaigns, please lose my phone number appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
On abortion, advocates and opponents unite on policies to address root causes
Editor’s note: This story is the third in a series about a group of people from Wisconsin trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. Their larger goal is to find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America. MADISON, Wis. — […] The post On abortion, advocates and opponents unite on policies to address root causes appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Ratepayers to shoulder costs of fire hydrant testing, upgrades
Due to a lack of funding from the Legislature, the costs for upgrading, testing and potentially replacing hundreds of fire hydrants in the state may fall on the backs of utility customers, officials said during a task force meeting on Friday. The post Ratepayers to shoulder costs of fire hydrant testing, upgrades appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Top GOP ‘election integrity’ lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme
Less than a week after the Republican National Committee unveiled a “historic” new program to monitor the polls for fraud, a top lawyer with the committee was among those indicted for an alleged scheme to use false fraud claims to overturn the results of Arizona’s presidential election. Indeed, the lawyer, RNC senior counsel for election […] The post Top GOP ‘election integrity’ lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Watch
1K+
Posts
10M+
Views
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.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.