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West Virginia Watch
A paramedic was skeptical about this Rx for stopping repeat opioid overdoses. Then he saw it help.
OCALA, Fla. — Fire Capt. Jesse Blaire steered his SUV through the mobile home park until he spotted the little beige house with white trim and radioed to let dispatchers know he’d arrived. There, Shawnice Slaughter waited on the steps, wiping sleep from her eyes. “Good morning, Shawnice,” Blaire said. “How are you feeling today?” […] The post A paramedic was skeptical about this Rx for stopping repeat opioid overdoses. Then he saw it help. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Two bills become law without the governor’s signature, and one big veto
Last week, Gov. Jim Justice signed into law the majority of the 279 bills passed by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2024 regular session. Wednesday was the deadline for him to take action on all bills. He did so on all but two, allowing those — changes to unemployment benefits and the sale of […] The post Two bills become law without the governor’s signature, and one big veto appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Dems say expected budget-focused special session shouldn’t tack on ‘red-meat bills’
The 2024 Legislative Session was largely ransacked by budget drama, which culminated in many high-profile bills petering out on the final night. A special session looms where lawmakers will likely deal with unfinished business – budget-related and otherwise. A special session is expected in May, though when it happens is entirely up to Gov. Jim Justice. He is also the only one who can decide which bills lawmakers will take up. The post Dems say expected budget-focused special session shouldn’t tack on ‘red-meat bills’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Advocates, Dems urge Medicaid funding
With a special legislative session to address the state budget on the horizon, advocates for West Virginia Medicaid called on state policy makers Monday to fund the health care program. Ellen Allen, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said the organization wants to see the state fill a fiscal year 2025 shortfall and increase a tax for managed care organizations to fund the program into the future. The organization held a news conference to mark April as Medicaid Awareness Month. The post Advocates, Dems urge Medicaid funding appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fire risk in Potomac Highlands could persist following earlier fires; officials hope for rain
High winds and low humidity coupled with an overwhelmingly dry, mild winter sparked raging brush fires in the Potomac Highlands region of the state over the last two weeks, and officials say the threat of future burning is still present as another red flag warning could be on the way. It all depends on how much rain is set to come to the region in coming days, said Dan Hofmann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. A storm front was moving in over the weekend, with hopes it will hit with wet and rainy conditions in the beginning of the week. Following any precipitation, however, will likely be a return to dry and breezy weather, again increasing the risk of fire. The post Fire risk in Potomac Highlands could persist following earlier fires; officials hope for rain appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why.
Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen. High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy. […] The post Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Vets fret as private equity snaps up clinics, pet care companies
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — About a year ago, veterinarian Melissa Ezell started noticing subtle changes at the midsized animal clinic in Huntsville, Alabama, where she works. This story is one in a series examining private equity’s impact on health care and the ways that states are responding. Jan. 18: Nearly 400 U.S. hospitals are owned by private […] The post Vets fret as private equity snaps up clinics, pet care companies appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Judge sanctions state in foster care lawsuit over deleted emails, but says it wasn’t intentional
A federal judge has ordered sanctions against the state health department for its role in failing to preserve emails for an ongoing lawsuit over alleged mistreatment of thousands of foster children. The sanction was less harsh than plaintiffs have sought against the state, as U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Eifert noted in an order issued Thursday […] The post Judge sanctions state in foster care lawsuit over deleted emails, but says it wasn’t intentional appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Deadly fires from phone, scooter batteries leave lawmakers playing catch-up on safety
For a decade, Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin has recognized the technological and economic potential of lithium-ion batteries. Rezin, a Republican who serves in a district that is a major chemical and energy industry hub southwest of Chicago, also recognizes the possible dangers. In June 2021, a Morris, Illinois, warehouse in her district with roughly […] The post Deadly fires from phone, scooter batteries leave lawmakers playing catch-up on safety appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice vetoed eight bills passed by legislators this session. Here’s what they would have done.
With Wednesday’s deadline to act on legislation officially passed, Gov. Jim Justice issued his veto on eight bills approved by lawmakers during West Virginia’s 2024 legislative session. It’s the most bills vetoed by Justice in a regular session since 2019, when 30 bills were disapproved and returned by him. Barring extremely unlikely circumstances that would […] The post Justice vetoed eight bills passed by legislators this session. Here’s what they would have done. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Health care providers applaud Justice veto of vaccine bill
Medical and public health organizations are applauding Gov. Jim Justice for rejecting a Republican-backed bill that would have weakened the state’s strong school-mandated vaccination laws. Just hours before Wednesday night’s deadline for him to act on legislation, Justice vetoed House Bill 5105, which would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own vaccination […] The post Health care providers applaud Justice veto of vaccine bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House Speaker Johnson sets date to deliver Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Thursday that two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will be sent to the U.S. Senate in early April when senators return from recess. “We call upon you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, wrote […] The post U.S. House Speaker Johnson sets date to deliver Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Unemployment, raw milk bills become law without governor’s signature
Gov. Jim Justice has allowed two bills — one restructuring the state’s unemployment benefit program and another allowing the sale of raw milk — to become law without his signature. Justice neither vetoed nor signed Senate Bill 841 or House Bill 4911 before the deadline Wednesday night for him to act on legislation. Senate Bill […] The post Unemployment, raw milk bills become law without governor’s signature appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
States rush to combat AI threat to elections
This year’s presidential election will be the first since generative AI — a form of artificial intelligence that can create new content, including images, audio, and video — became widely available. That’s raising fears that millions of voters could be deceived by a barrage of political deepfakes. But, while Congress has done little to address […] The post States rush to combat AI threat to elections appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Stop kicking the Medicaid can down the road
That’s a wrap on the 2024 legislative session. And despite disappointments, we did see some legislative wins. Let’s start with the good news for West Virginians and some things we can celebrate. Studies have shown that social determinants of health, such as income, housing, environmental exposure, education and race, all influence the health status of […] The post Stop kicking the Medicaid can down the road appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice vetoes school vaccine exemption bill
Heeding the advice of a number of medical professionals and organizations, Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have allowed the state’s private and parochial schools to develop their own vaccine requirements. Justice vetoed House Bill 5105, which also would have allowed students attending virtual schools an exemption from school mandated vaccinations. […] The post Justice vetoes school vaccine exemption bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Federal rebuild of Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg outlined Wednesday the immediate and longer-term priorities the Biden administration is pursuing in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore that left six presumed dead. While many questions remained roughly 36 hours after a massive cargo ship struck the bridge and caused the deadly collapse, Buttigieg […] The post Federal rebuild of Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice acts on slew of bills as midnight deadline approaches
With a midnight deadline looming for his action, Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday afternoon signed dozens of bills into law, including controversial legislation to move oversight for West Virginia Public Broadcasting to the state and a bill to prohibit people from using “nonbinary” on their birth certificates, among others. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, Justice […] The post Justice acts on slew of bills as midnight deadline approaches appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Self-managed abortions increased by about 26,000 after Dobbs decision, study shows
Self-managed abortions rose by more than 26,000 in the six months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago, according to a peer-reviewed study published Monday in JAMA, the American Medical Association’s journal. Researchers determined that an increase of approximately 27,838 online orders of abortion pills between July and December 2022 corresponded […] The post Self-managed abortions increased by about 26,000 after Dobbs decision, study shows appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Hundreds protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court to keep abortion medication accessible
WASHINGTON — As the enormous yellow banner unfurled in front of the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday morning, Laura Clime-Coates turned to her 9-year-old daughter and said, “Those are the names of people who agree with us.” On the sign, titled “We the People Support Medication Abortion,” were what activists estimated to be […] The post Hundreds protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court to keep abortion medication accessible 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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