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West Virginia Watch
Justice lobs criticism at lawmakers as special session approaches without risk of ‘clawback’
Following a Friday announcement confirming what many had already assumed — that there will be no federal “clawback” due to the U.S. Department of Education approving a waiver for the state relating to its spending on education — Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday promised that a special session will still be incoming next month. Instead, […] The post Justice lobs criticism at lawmakers as special session approaches without risk of ‘clawback’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘It makes it a true career:’ 911 officials applaud retirement bill
Officials say a new law lowering the retirement age for 911 workers in West Virginia will turn the job into a career and help counties hire and retain emergency telecommunicators. Gov. Jim Justice joined Kanawha County officials and 911 leaders at Kanawha County Metro 911 Tuesday for a ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 439, which […] The post ‘It makes it a true career:’ 911 officials applaud retirement bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden administration unveils new rule on nursing home staffing levels
The Biden administration has introduced a controversial set of new regulations intended to increase staffing levels and improve patient care in nursing homes. The new staffing rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has faced fierce opposition from the industry and Republicans in Congress. It establishes for the first time national minimum staffing […] The post Biden administration unveils new rule on nursing home staffing levels appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Foreign aid bill advances in U.S. Senate as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’
WASHINGTON — An additional $95 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is on a glide path to passage in the U.S. Senate after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to limit debate on the package. The 80-19 procedural vote sets up a final passage vote as soon as Tuesday […] The post Foreign aid bill advances in U.S. Senate as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘It’s been chaos:’ WVU nears end of tumultuous academic year after jobs, programs unexpectedly cut
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Last July, Drew Herter auditioned to join the jazz program at West Virginia University. A trombone player inspired by artists Count Basie and Charles Mingus, Herter dreamt of a full-time job touring the country in a band. A few months later, the university’s Board of Governors cut the jazz program along with […] The post ‘It’s been chaos:’ WVU nears end of tumultuous academic year after jobs, programs unexpectedly cut appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Mine safety advocates agree new silica dust rule is progress, but some worry it’s not enough
It was a celebratory moment years in the making when acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, flanked by miners and advocates, announced the rollout of a new rule limiting silica dust exposure for miners in Uniontown, Pennsylvania Tuesday. For years, advocates for mine safety had urged the federal government to adopt strict rules around the substance […] The post Mine safety advocates agree new silica dust rule is progress, but some worry it’s not enough appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Idaho doctor who worked at closed maternity ward says abortion ban harmed recruiting
A hospital in a rural area outside of Idaho’s capital city of Boise closed its labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care units April 1, citing declining birth rates and staffing issues. West Valley Medical Center is the third facility to close its maternity services in Idaho since the state enacted a near-total abortion ban […] The post Idaho doctor who worked at closed maternity ward says abortion ban harmed recruiting appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Will Gov. Justice ever take responsibility for anything that’s not a win for WV?
Often when reporters question Gov. Jim Justice during his weekly briefing, he immediately gets defensive, as if the reporter is accusing him of being wholly responsible for whatever they’re questioning. He seems to not realize that as governor, he’s chief executive of West Virginia and should be prepared to respond to the questions put to […] The post Will Gov. Justice ever take responsibility for anything that’s not a win for WV? appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Legal advocacy organization files suit against Morgantown over panhandling ban
A legal advocacy organization has filed a lawsuit against the city of Morgantown, alleging the city is violating the First Amendment rights by enforcing a 2005 panhandling ban. Mountain State Justice filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia on behalf of Anthony Rowand, an unemployed Monongalia County […] The post Legal advocacy organization files suit against Morgantown over panhandling ban appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, conservative […] The post U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off
WASHINGTON — Oral arguments in former President Donald Trump’s historic case in New York began Monday in a Manhattan courtroom where jurors will be tasked with deciding whether deceptive hush money payments to hide an affair amount to a criminal conviction. The first-ever criminal trial of an ex-U.S. president centers on Trump’s alleged falsified business […] The post NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia’s first measles case since 2009 confirmed in Monongalia County
An adult resident of Monongalia County has tested positive for measles, the state’s first known case of the disease since 2009, officials say. The patient developed symptoms of the disease and sought treatment at an outpatient clinic of WVU Hospitals last week, according to news releases Monday from the hospital system and the Monongalia County […] The post West Virginia’s first measles case since 2009 confirmed in Monongalia County appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House votes down border bill favored by conservatives
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Saturday failed to pass a border security bill that Republican leadership intended as an incentive for conservatives to support a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The border bill, turned down on a 215-199 vote, was brought to the floor under a fast-track procedure known as suspension of […] The post U.S. House votes down border bill favored by conservatives appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Aid to Ukraine, Israel overwhelmingly approved by U.S. House in bipartisan vote
WASHINGTON — Military and humanitarian aid could be on its way to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan within weeks after the U.S. House took a series of overwhelmingly bipartisan votes Saturday to approve $95 billion in emergency assistance — and the Senate appeared poised to agree. The approval in a rare weekend session ended months of […] The post Aid to Ukraine, Israel overwhelmingly approved by U.S. House in bipartisan vote appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Deleted emails in foster care lawsuit could cost state $172K in sanctions
Attorneys suing the state over its troubled foster care system have requested around $172,000 from the state in sanctions following the destruction of emails related to the case. A federal judge last month ordered sanctions in the ongoing class-action lawsuit after finding that the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources failed to preserve […] The post Deleted emails in foster care lawsuit could cost state $172K in sanctions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House heads toward Saturday vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Friday moved one step closer to approving billions in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with Democrats providing crucial support to Republican leaders after defections by their hard-right members. Lawmakers in the broadly bipartisan 316-94 vote approved a rule that sets up the procedure for debating […] The post U.S. House heads toward Saturday vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House tries anew to force sale or ban for TikTok, a ‘spy balloon in your phone’
WASHINGTON — U.S. House leadership has packaged more than a dozen bipartisan bills into a so-called “sidecar” agreement meant to attract isolationist lawmakers’ support for long-stalled foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The wide-ranging catchall, introduced as the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, would force the split of the hugely popular app TikTok […] The post U.S. House tries anew to force sale or ban for TikTok, a ‘spy balloon in your phone’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges
The New York state court trying former President Donald Trump on criminal charges empaneled a full 12-person jury on the third day of the trial Thursday, according to reports. The trial approached the end of its first phase Thursday afternoon as one of six alternate jurors was also selected. Selection of more alternates will continue […] The post Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges 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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