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West Virginia Watch
Governments can erase your medical debt for pennies on the dollar — and some are
Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcies in the United States, and more than 2 in 5 American adults have some. In many cases, the money people owe to health care providers forces them to cut spending on food or utilities, forgo other medical care or take on even more debt. Medical debt can […] The post Governments can erase your medical debt for pennies on the dollar — and some are appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House passes bill to reverse Biden pause of some liquified natural gas exports
The U.S. House voted Thursday to approve a bill that would preempt the Biden administration’s move last month to pause new approvals for some liquified natural gas exports. Nine Democrats voted with every Republican in favor of the bill, which the chamber approved 224-200. The bill would remove the federal requirement that the Department of […] The post U.S. House passes bill to reverse Biden pause of some liquified natural gas exports appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House Health advances Senate bill to improve oversight at recovery residences
A bill to add more protections for people in recovery residences and promote accountability for those residences unanimously passed the House Committee on Health and Human Resources on Thursday. Senate Bill 475 would add further oversight for recovery residences in the state by requiring them to be registered with — not licensed by — the […] The post House Health advances Senate bill to improve oversight at recovery residences appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
With pressing child care shortage, House lawmakers advancing more bills on the issue
Lawmakers in House committees advanced two key pieces of child care legislation on Thursday that could help providers that are struggling to stay open due to cost and a worker shortage. Tiffany Gale, owner of Miss Tiffany’s Early Childhood Education House in Weirton, said legislative help is necessary. “Child care providers have been having to […] The post With pressing child care shortage, House lawmakers advancing more bills on the issue appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump’s calendar becoming crowded as legal battles escalate in New York, D.C.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s days fighting criminal charges in two courts could be arriving soon. Special Counsel Jack Smith urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday not to pause federal election interference proceedings and a New York state judge on Thursday set a late March trial date on charges related to hush money […] The post Trump’s calendar becoming crowded as legal battles escalate in New York, D.C. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Expanded child tax credit could be in place quickly if passed by Congress, IRS chief says
WASHINGTON — Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel told lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday that his agency is “poised to move quickly” on a bipartisan tax bill that would temporarily expand the child tax credit and revive several corporate tax breaks. But, he cautioned, taxpayers should not wait to file. The Tax Relief for American […] The post Expanded child tax credit could be in place quickly if passed by Congress, IRS chief says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
More people in schools, including teachers, could carry guns under GOP’s school safety plan
Citing a shortage in law enforcement in the state, Republican lawmakers are looking to arm teachers and retired law enforcement in schools to bolster school safety. If their proposals are successful this legislative session, there’d be four groups of people in total who could carry guns in schools. Lawmakers’ efforts come amid a nationwide rise […] The post More people in schools, including teachers, could carry guns under GOP’s school safety plan appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘You can’t tell me you’re not delaying mail’: Employees, supporters of mail plant push back
An estimated 180 people spent their Valentine’s Day evening at a contentious public meeting about the future of a South Charleston mail facility. Officials from the United States Postal Service on Wednesday outlined preliminary plans to downsize the Charleston Postal Processing and Distribution Center and transfer part of the operations to Pittsburgh, a move the […] The post ‘You can’t tell me you’re not delaying mail’: Employees, supporters of mail plant push back appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Tuberculosis cases rise, but public health agencies say they lack the resources to keep up
Until COVID-19, tuberculosis was the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing about 1.5 million people annually. Contrary to public perception, the disease is still active in the United States. The number of TB cases in the U.S. briefly dropped at the start of the pandemic, but there was a 5% increase in cases in 2022, according […] The post Tuberculosis cases rise, but public health agencies say they lack the resources to keep up appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Without funding, student discipline bill will hurt the kids who need the most help
West Virginia’s students have a discipline problem. Legislators are moving a bill that, on its surface, reads like a balanced solution for both educators and students. It’s not. It may make it easier to remove disruptive students from the classroom, but puts nothing in place to help them. Senate Bill 614 amends and reenacts code relating to […] The post Without funding, student discipline bill will hurt the kids who need the most help appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Senate passes ‘informed consent’ abortion bill
Under a bill the state Senate passed Wednesday, doctors performing abortions in West Virginia would have to tell their patients about “perinatal hospice services” and medication abortion reversal, a controversial claim that people who change their mind after taking an abortion pill can take another medication to continue the pregnancy. Abortion is illegal in West […] The post West Virginia Senate passes ‘informed consent’ abortion bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Women’s Bill of Rights’ passes House; Democrats say it’s a vehicle for discrimination
A proposed “Women’s Bill of Rights” that would narrow the definition of women in state code passed out of the House of Delegates on Wednesday. Democrats, who unanimously opposed the bill, noted that it was an “empty Valentine’s Day card” to women in the state. The measure, House Bill 5234, would codify in state law […] The post ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’ passes House; Democrats say it’s a vehicle for discrimination appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
One-on-one outreach shows promise in cutting school absenteeism
When outreach worker Leah Marks shows up at homes in Sanford, Maine — a small manufacturing city 18 miles inland and a world away from tony Kennebunkport — the kids know it’s time to walk with her to the school bus. Her walks often involve snow and ice this time of year. But what they […] The post One-on-one outreach shows promise in cutting school absenteeism appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
At Environmental Day, advocates urge legislative support while students consider their future in WV
Tuesday marked Environmental Day at the West Virginia Legislature, and with the second half of the 2024 regular session in full swing, environmental advocates are hoping to see progress made on bills they say will promote sustainability, economic development and community health across West Virginia. With 35 groups in attendance lobbying for and against a […] The post At Environmental Day, advocates urge legislative support while students consider their future in WV appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House health advances vaccine exemption, raw milk bill
A House of Delegates committee on Tuesday advanced a bill that would exempt students attending public virtual school from the requirements of school-mandated immunizations. Under an amendment approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Resources Tuesday, students who participate in extracurricular activities like sports or clubs would still need the vaccines. While all […] The post House health advances vaccine exemption, raw milk bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Senate Workforce Committee advances bill to expand SNAP employment and training requirements
A bill advancing in the West Virginia Senate would expand the employment and training requirements for people receiving benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. The Senate Workforce Committee on Tuesday signed off on Senate Bill 562. With some exceptions, able-bodied childless adults ages 18 through 53 are required […] The post Senate Workforce Committee advances bill to expand SNAP employment and training requirements appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security chief Mayorkas on second try
WASHINGTON — In their second attempt in as many weeks, U.S. House Republicans impeached Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, marking an inflection point in the growing rift between the GOP and the White House over immigration policy decisions at the southern border. In a 214-213 vote, the House approved two articles […] The post U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security chief Mayorkas on second try appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Former GOP officials warn of ‘terrifying possibilities’ if Trump immunity claim accepted
WASHINGTON — Accepting former President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity would embolden future presidents to use military force to stay in office indefinitely, a group of anti-Trump Republican former officials warned in a Tuesday brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. Rejecting Trump’s immunity claim, which he has said should protect him from prosecution on […] The post Former GOP officials warn of ‘terrifying possibilities’ if Trump immunity claim accepted appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A bill that could lead to librarians facing jail time heads to full House for vote
A bill that would open up librarians to felony charges for showing obscene material to minors will head to the House of Delegates for consideration. On Monday, bill sponsor Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, called for support of his legislation in a fiery speech, in which he said libraries were “the sanctuary for pedophilia” where people […] The post A bill that could lead to librarians facing jail time heads to full House for vote appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump’s pick for RNC chief worked with top election denier’s group
Former President Donald Trump’s choice to be the next chair of the national Republican Party briefly teamed up last election cycle with a voter fraud watchdog group closely tied to Cleta Mitchell, the conservative lawyer who played a key role in Trump’s bid to subvert the 2020 vote. Trump is backing Michael Whatley, the chair […] The post Trump’s pick for RNC chief worked with top election denier’s group 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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