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West Virginia Watch
Senate passes amended unemployment legislation
In a change from a previous version of the legislation, West Virginia Senators on Wednesday advanced a bill that changes the structure of unemployment benefits in the state. The Senate finance committee on Saturday approved Senate Bill 840, which would tie the duration of unemployment benefits to the state’s unemployment rate, an approach known as […] The post Senate passes amended unemployment legislation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lawmakers across the U.S. seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more extras
After a string of scandals and amid rising bills, lawmakers in statehouses across the country have been pushing legislation to curb utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying, expert testimony in rate cases, goodwill advertising, charitable giving, trade association membership and other costs. At least a dozen states have considered bills to limit how gas, water […] The post Lawmakers across the U.S. seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more extras appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Senate suspends rules, passes proposed budget; House yet to consider its version
In one of its final acts before the end of Crossover Day, the West Virginia Senate on Wednesday suspended constitutional rules and unanimously approved its proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. The proposal for the state’s general revenue fund, which only takes into account fiscal impacts from legislation passed by the Senate and is subject […] The post Senate suspends rules, passes proposed budget; House yet to consider its version appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate Republican blocks legislation protecting in vitro fertilization
WASHINGTON — U.S. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked a bill from passing Wednesday that would have preserved access to in vitro fertilization nationwide, stalling a push by Democrats following a landmark Alabama state Supreme Court decision. The court ruled earlier this month that frozen embryos counted as children under state law and parents […] The post U.S. Senate Republican blocks legislation protecting in vitro fertilization appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court to decide if Trump is immune from prosecution for acts as president
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear former President Donald Trump’s argument that he should be immune from criminal charges related to the 2020 election. In a one-page order, the court set an expedited briefing schedule, with oral arguments to be held the week of April 22. Proceedings in the federal trial court […] The post U.S. Supreme Court to decide if Trump is immune from prosecution for acts as president appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Once a priority, efforts to address state’s child care desert stalled in Statehouse
Legislation that would help West Virginians access and afford child care has slowed to a halt in the Legislature, despite early signals that it would be a priority this session. “I’m feeling very discouraged,” said West Virginia Association for Young Children Executive Director Kristy Ritz. Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, who introduced a bill to financially […] The post Once a priority, efforts to address state’s child care desert stalled in Statehouse appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Despite pushback from in-state doctors, House passes total ban on gender-affirming care for minors
The House of Delegates on Wednesday passed a total ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The bill is an effort to close a narrow loophole in current state law that allows children with gender dysphoria who are at risk of harming themselves to access medical care. The vote, which came on the last day for […] The post Despite pushback from in-state doctors, House passes total ban on gender-affirming care for minors appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Economic effects of state abortion bans debated by U.S. Senate panel
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators heard detailed testimony Wednesday on the economic impacts women face and how those considerations can play into whether they seek elective abortion access. The Senate Budget Committee also heard examples of the increased pressures women who need abortions for medical reasons have experienced after more than a dozen states severely restricted […] The post Economic effects of state abortion bans debated by U.S. Senate panel appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
McConnell to step down as U.S. Senate GOP leader
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will step down as the Senate Republican leader in November, he said on the Senate floor Wednesday, announcing the end of a run as party leader that broke records for its length and shaped American politics over nearly two decades. “One of life’s most underappreciated talents is […] The post McConnell to step down as U.S. Senate GOP leader appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Organizations call on West Virginia lawmakers to improve biomarker legislation
As a bill meant to expand access to “an increasingly important tool in precision medicine,” heads to the West Virginia Senate for consideration, 37 organizations are calling on lawmakers to make improvements to the legislation. The House of Delegates passed House Bill 4753 Tuesday with a 90 to 4 vote. As it was introduced, it […] The post Organizations call on West Virginia lawmakers to improve biomarker legislation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
More places install drop-off boxes for surrendered babies. Critics say they’re a gimmick.
The pitch feels noble, visceral: Prevent newborns from being discarded in dumpsters, and do it in a way that shields the mother and protects her anonymity while safeguarding the baby’s health and future. In a growing number of states, the answer to the rare occurrence of illegal infant abandonment is a baby drop-off box. It’s […] The post More places install drop-off boxes for surrendered babies. Critics say they’re a gimmick. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A partial government shutdown is days away. There’s no agreement on federal funding yet.
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden huddled with top congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday amid a crunch over government funding as well as a familiar stalemate over assistance to two major allies — and no solution immediately in sight. Lawmakers leaving the meeting, which lasted about an hour, said it was worthwhile, even […] The post A partial government shutdown is days away. There’s no agreement on federal funding yet. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘We’re standing up for them:’ House passes bill that would bar homeschooling in child abuse cases
After years of consideration, a House Democrat led a successful bipartisan vote on an amendment that would pause or potentially deny a parent’s request to homeschool if a teacher has reported suspected child abuse. The amendment was fashioned after previous legislation introduced as “Raylee’s Law,” which was named for an eight-year-old girl who died of […] The post ‘We’re standing up for them:’ House passes bill that would bar homeschooling in child abuse cases appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House passes bill to, again, limit what syringe service programs can distribute in WV
Under a bill passed by the House on Tuesday, syringe service programs in West Virginia may soon be prohibited from distributing safe smoking equipment to people who use drugs. House Bill 4667 passed the House 88-12, with two Democrats — Dels. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha and Ric Griffith, D-Wayne — splitting from their party colleagues to […] The post House passes bill to, again, limit what syringe service programs can distribute in WV appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Researchers call for more abortion studies to be retracted
Health and science experts published a commentary in the British Medical Journal on Tuesday calling for the retraction of four older abortion-related studies that, despite documented flaws, have influenced major anti-abortion decisions over the past 20 years, including the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned federal abortion rights. The commentary comes the same month […] The post Researchers call for more abortion studies to be retracted appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate Dems to try to push through legislation protecting in vitro fertilization
WASHINGTON — A group of Democrats will attempt to pass a bill in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday protecting access to in vitro fertilization, saying its availability should not be restricted. Their push to quickly approve the health care legislation comes shortly after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that fertilized eggs are […] The post U.S. Senate Dems to try to push through legislation protecting in vitro fertilization appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
IVF patient vows to fight for access to treatment in Alabama following court ruling
Birmingham resident Hannah Miles has been trying to have a baby for more than three years, fighting obstacles like endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve and cancer treatment that affected her husband’s sperm. The couple is already nearly $40,000 into the in vitro fertilization process after one failed transfer into her uterus in January. Their last embryo […] The post IVF patient vows to fight for access to treatment in Alabama following court ruling 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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