Columbus
West Virginia Watch
Medical professionals call on Justice to veto school vaccine bill
As a bill that would loosen West Virginia’s school vaccine requirements heads to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, some medical professionals are urging him not to sign the legislation into law. As it is now, state law requires school students to be vaccinated against a series of contagious diseases such as polio and measles, […] The post Medical professionals call on Justice to veto school vaccine bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals
Worried about hospitals closing and higher costs for patients, state lawmakers are increasingly tangling with hospitals over potential health care mergers, in some cases derailing deals they think don’t serve the public interest. Financially strapped hospitals often look to merge with or be acquired by other systems. After a pandemic-era slowdown, health care mergers and […] The post Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia’s GOP supermajority somehow couldn’t get much accomplished during session
Wow, were most of my predictions wrong about what would be the big topics during this legislative session. Based on what lawmakers talked about in the months leading up to the start, I expected them to 1) reverse the high school athlete transfer law, 2) work on transparency in foster care and Child Protective Services […] The post West Virginia’s GOP supermajority somehow couldn’t get much accomplished during session appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Veterans Affairs Department expands IVF access to unmarried and same-sex veterans
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs expanded access to in vitro fertilization on Monday, saying that eligible unmarried veterans and veterans in same-sex marriages can now access IVF at VA health care facilities. The announcement notes that federal law requires the VA only provide IVF treatments to veterans whose issues having children are due […] The post U.S. Veterans Affairs Department expands IVF access to unmarried and same-sex veterans appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biomarker testing bill fails, Cancer Society hopes to try again
The American Cancer Society says it hopes to work with West Virginia lawmakers in the future to pass legislation that would expand access to biomarker testing, “an increasingly important tool in precision medicine.” House Bill 4753 was intended to do that. The bill was ultimately removed from the Senate calendar Friday as lawmakers were expected […] The post Biomarker testing bill fails, Cancer Society hopes to try again appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.3 trillion budget plan
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden released his budget request for the upcoming fiscal year Monday, calling on Congress to stick to the spending agreement brokered last year and to revamp tax laws so that the “wealthy pay their fair share.” The $7.266 trillion budget request doesn’t actually spend any money since Congress controls the power […] The post Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.3 trillion budget plan appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Both of these women needed to end their pregnancies. Only one got to do it on her terms.
Jennifer Vollstedt and Ariel Cavanaugh-Okhah have never met, but they are connected by fatal chromosomal abnormalities that affected their wanted pregnancies, and the stress and heartbreak that comes with it. Their experiences of needing to terminate their pregnancies were quite different. One took place before the Dobbs ruling overturned Roe and the federal right to […] The post Both of these women needed to end their pregnancies. Only one got to do it on her terms. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Drug treatment crisis grows in West Virginia, but state just looks toward more punishment
This story first appeared in Bolts and is reprinted with permission. In the months leading up to her death, Ashley Omps of Charleston, West Virginia, felt ashamed to be taking suboxone. It was prescribed to her to treat opioid dependency by limiting cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and though it was clearly a much healthier alternative to the pills […] The post Drug treatment crisis grows in West Virginia, but state just looks toward more punishment appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘There will be negative effects’: Senate signs off on weakening school vaccine laws
A bill that completed legislation Saturday night loosens West Virginia’s laws for school-mandated vaccines. The Senate signed off on House Bill 5105 with a 20 to 12 vote. If approved by Gov. Jim Justice, the bill would allow private and parochial schools to develop their own policies for immunizations and provide them legal protections for […] The post ‘There will be negative effects’: Senate signs off on weakening school vaccine laws appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The 2024 regular session is over. Here’s a look at some of what died before adjournment
While the last few days of the 2024 legislative session were dominated by budget drama — with more likely to come this spring — lawmakers worked well into the night Saturday both passing and killing legislation considered over the previous 60 days. This session saw 2,575 total bills introduced by legislators, with 1,698 coming from […] The post The 2024 regular session is over. Here’s a look at some of what died before adjournment appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Governor’s proposed ‘Women’s Bill of Rights” failed to go up for a vote
Nearly down-to-wire budget negotiations on the last day of session meant the House of Delegates ran out of time to vote on the governor’s proposed “Women’s Bill of Rights.” The high profile bill was meant to codify the definitions of “man” and “woman” and protect single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms. Gov. Jim Justice, […] The post Governor’s proposed ‘Women’s Bill of Rights” failed to go up for a vote appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lawmakers reach budget compromise; pay raises, Social Security tax cuts included without triggers
Following hours of closed door back-and-forths, the West Virginia Legislature on Saturday approved 5% pay raises for school employees and other state workers, as well as the phase out of the Social Security income tax, allowing lawmakers to move forward and pass what was previously described as a “very skinny” budget for fiscal year 2025. […] The post Lawmakers reach budget compromise; pay raises, Social Security tax cuts included without triggers appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Legislature completes action on unemployment bill
With hours to spare on the last night of the West Virginia Legislature’s 60-day session, the House of Delegates approved an amended version of a Senate bill that changes the structure of the state’s unemployment benefit program. Delegates passed Senate Bill 841 with a 66 to 31 vote late on a day with a number […] The post West Virginia Legislature completes action on unemployment bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House approves broad bill allowing teachers to respond to questions about ‘scientific’ theories
Public school teachers would be permitted to discuss scientific theories in the classroom under a Senate bill that passed in the House on Saturday evening. Supporters of the bill, including its lead Senate sponsor, said it would allow teachers to discuss intelligent design — which a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled is not legitimate science […] The post House approves broad bill allowing teachers to respond to questions about ‘scientific’ theories appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate sends Biden giant spending package hours before midnight deadline
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators on Friday cleared a bipartisan spending package for President Joe Biden’s signature, completing work on half of the annual bills that were supposed to become law by Oct. 1. The $468 billion spending legislation rolls together the Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending bills into a so-called “minibus.” […] The post U.S. Senate sends Biden giant spending package hours before midnight deadline appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Teacher pay raise hangs in limbo amid legislative budget drama
Amid a glaring teaching shortage, a pay raise for educators and service personnel hangs in the balance as budget drama continues at the Legislature. West Virginia has a shortage of more than 1,700 certified teachers. Matthew Anderson works at Divide Elementary School in Fayetteville. His classroom is for students with behavioral disorders, where he spends […] The post Teacher pay raise hangs in limbo amid legislative budget drama appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bill to remove marriage as a defense for sexual abuse heads to governor for signature
Nearly 50 years in the making, West Virginia lawmakers on Friday completed action on a bill to remove marriage as a defense for certain kinds of sexual abuse and contact. Senate Bill 190 passed the House unanimously, with one member absent and not voting on Friday. The bill already passed the Senate 22-9 with three […] The post Bill to remove marriage as a defense for sexual abuse heads to governor for signature appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden warns ‘freedom and democracy are under attack’ in fierce State of the Union address
WASHINGTON — In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals he’s brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. […] The post Biden warns ‘freedom and democracy are under attack’ in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bill requiring ‘In God We Trust’ poster in public schools, universities passes House
The House of Delegates on Friday approved a bill mandating that West Virginia’s public schools and higher education institutions display the national motto — “In God We Trust” — in their main buildings. Senators previously signed off on the legislation, Senate Bill 152, which was sponsored by Sen. Robert Azinger, R-Wood. The House passed it […] The post Bill requiring ‘In God We Trust’ poster in public schools, universities passes House 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.