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West Virginia Watch
What will the governor do? A pitch to make politics (and public health) local again
When former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neal coined the phrase “All politics is local,” the political landscape seemed much more orderly. Predictable. Back then, Americans were more likely to vote based on issues that directly affected them — their family, neighborhood, community. Now, of course, the world is very different. There are 24/7 […] The post What will the governor do? A pitch to make politics (and public health) local again appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fed declines to cut interest rates, saying it’s not clear inflation has slowed enough yet
The Federal Reserve declined Wednesday to cut interest rates, saying it remains uncertain inflation is slowing enough, but some economists warned the financial regulators risk waiting too long to make cuts. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed has a lack of sufficient data that inflation is slowing enough to justify taking the pressure off […] The post Fed declines to cut interest rates, saying it’s not clear inflation has slowed enough yet appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Congress struggles to finish work on spending bills as another Friday deadline nears
WASHINGTON — Congressional staff were scrambling Wednesday to finalize sweeping legislation that would fund much of the federal government, but time was running short ahead of a Friday midnight deadline. Leaders of the House and Senate and the Biden administration announced Tuesday they’d reached consensus on the final six government funding bills for the fiscal […] The post Congress struggles to finish work on spending bills as another Friday deadline nears appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows
Researchers found that 63% of all abortions provided in the U.S. last year were medication abortions. There were an estimated 1,026,690 abortions — the most in over a decade — performed in the formal health care system in 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization. The […] The post Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump renewed his call to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to dismiss charges against him, asserting that presidents enjoy near-total immunity from criminal prosecution. In addition, as a deadline loomed for briefs in the case, 18 Republican-led states filed an amicus brief Tuesday urging the Supreme Court to reverse the lower […] The post Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A ‘deeply divided’ Congress took no major action on civil rights in 2023, report finds
WASHINGTON — Last year, neither chamber in Congress passed any meaningful civil rights legislation, according to an analysis of legislative and voting records of the first session of the 118th Congress by a coalition of civil rights groups. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Voting Record report found the lack of congressional action […] The post A ‘deeply divided’ Congress took no major action on civil rights in 2023, report finds appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Religious, health freedom groups push Justice to sign vaccine exemption bill
Groups that advocate for “health freedom” and “religious freedom” are weighing in on a bill that would allow the state’s private and parochial schools to develop their own vaccination policies, adding to the pressure Gov. Jim Justice is getting to act one way or the other on the legislation. Representatives from West Virginians for Health […] The post Religious, health freedom groups push Justice to sign vaccine exemption bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
To boost Trump, GOP attorneys general charge into battle over state election rules
With less than six months before voting begins, the legal jousting over the rules for the 2024 election is already underway. And former President Donald Trump’s campaign is getting support from allies who have stayed mostly under the national radar: red-state attorneys general. In court filings made in recent months, these chief state legal officers […] The post To boost Trump, GOP attorneys general charge into battle over state election rules appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
New scorecard rates nation’s grid managers on connecting renewables
Across the country, electric demand is growing and could explode if green goals like electrifying home heating, industry and transportation come to fruition. At the same time, many states, utilities and businesses have pledged to decarbonize, helping push older coal and gas power plants that have struggled to stay economically competitive into retirement. Yet in […] The post New scorecard rates nation’s grid managers on connecting renewables appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Happy political ad season to all who just want to watch ‘Jeopardy!’ in peace
You know it’s election season when the ridiculous political ads start airing. Not only are they on TV, but they’ve been popping up before videos on YouTube, as well. Chris Miller, a businessman who is running to become the Republican nominee for West Virginia’s next governor, has released multiple ads in the past few months. […] The post Happy political ad season to all who just want to watch ‘Jeopardy!’ in peace appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fourth Circuit order keeps Huntington, Cabell opioid lawsuit alive
Claims the City of Huntington and the Cabell County Commission are bringing against three opioid distributors are still alive under a ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday. In an order, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals asked the West Virginia State Supreme Court to decide whether state law recognizes conditions caused […] The post Fourth Circuit order keeps Huntington, Cabell opioid lawsuit alive appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WVU leaders take steps to find next president after high-profile campus cuts
West Virginia University’s Board of Governors is moving along in its process of selecting the university’s next president. Current WVU President E. Gordon Gee plans to step down from his role when his contract expires June 30, 2025. His announcement came amid intense scrutiny on the university’s decision to eliminate 28 academic majors and hundreds […] The post WVU leaders take steps to find next president after high-profile campus cuts appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Suit alleging suppression of free speech met with skepticism at U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical Monday of a lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech, with a majority of justices across the ideological spectrum raising issues with the case and its potential consequences. The Biden administration argued to the court there is no […] The post Suit alleging suppression of free speech met with skepticism at U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Youth apprenticeship program’ bill raises child labor concerns for advocates
A bill that would create a work apprenticeship program for 11th and 12th graders in West Virginia has raised concerns it may also expose them to hazardous working environments, including roofing operations. House Bill 5162 would direct the state Department of Education to create a “youth apprenticeship program aimed at a “broad range of skills” […] The post ‘Youth apprenticeship program’ bill raises child labor concerns for advocates appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘His skin melted off’ — Elderly man in state care dies after being left in scalding water
An elderly, nonverbal man died from burn injuries after being left too long in a whirlpool of scalding water at a state-run long-term care facility. A spokesperson for the state health department said they’ve fired four nurses, including three contract employees, who were involved in the patient’s death. It raises more concerns about how the […] The post ‘His skin melted off’ — Elderly man in state care dies after being left in scalding water appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
SCOTUS to hear case alleging federal government bullied social media into censoring content
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday morning in a potentially landmark case involving the federal government’s efforts to encourage social media companies to remove misinformation from their platforms. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana. It alleges the federal government colluded with social media companies such as […] The post SCOTUS to hear case alleging federal government bullied social media into censoring content appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘No public health justification’: Harm reductionists concerned as pipe ban set to go into effect
As lawmakers in West Virginia overwhelmingly passed legislation this session to prohibit syringe service programs from distributing safe smoking materials — a medically sound option to decrease more risky intravenous drug use — experts who work in harm reduction have been left to ponder one question: Why? House Bill 4667 — which will go into […] The post ‘No public health justification’: Harm reductionists concerned as pipe ban set to go into effect appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Democrats push bills related to contraception access following Alabama IVF ruling
Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced and debated in 40 legislatures across the country, especially in states where the procedure is already banned. It can be hard to monitor them all, so States Newsroom’s Reproductive Rights Today team tracks certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending […] The post Democrats push bills related to contraception access following Alabama IVF ruling appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice vetoes Rockefeller Institute funding that would have supported neuroscience research
Gov. Jim Justice has vetoed legislation that would have contributed $2 million in state funding to West Virginia University to support neuroscience research at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown. House Bill 5014 would have used a supplemental appropriation of $2 million from the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget to help fund an expansion […] The post Justice vetoes Rockefeller Institute funding that would have supported neuroscience research appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Planned Parenthood affiliates train abortion doulas to reduce stress for patients
A 39-year-old single mother of two got up extra early on a recent Wednesday morning, hoping to be one of the first outside the Planned Parenthood clinic near Phoenix, Arizona. The upside of not telling anyone about her abortion was that she wasn’t going to have to explain herself. The downside was that she couldn’t […] The post Planned Parenthood affiliates train abortion doulas to reduce stress for patients 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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