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West Virginia Watch
U.S. Senate kills immigration overhaul, hits stalemate on Israel, Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate was stuck over whether to begin debate on an emergency spending bill Wednesday night that would provide $95.3 billion in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — after senators blocked a sweeping larger package that would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in decades. Republicans said last year […] The post U.S. Senate kills immigration overhaul, hits stalemate on Israel, Ukraine aid appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
First Foundation adopts public access policy as bill to require transparency stalls
Months after its first meeting, the board of the West Virginia First Foundation on Friday adopted an official public access policy outlining how it will publish information and communicate with the public and media. The policy comes as lawmakers in the West Virginia House have halted progress on a bill that would make the private […] The post First Foundation adopts public access policy as bill to require transparency stalls appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Jan. 31 to assist low-income families through an expansion of the child tax credit and the bill now awaits approval in the Senate. But some organizations are also highlighting a separate tax credit for child and dependent care, which they say is not providing adequate assistance to families […] The post Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
State lawmakers want to peel back the curtain at the nation’s biggest electrical grid operator
Last year, Maryland state lawmaker Lorig Charkoudian was on her own when she filed legislation seeking to force her state’s utilities to reveal votes at the grid operator that coordinates the flow of electricity for 65 million people in the Eastern U.S. Her bill passed the House, but stalled in the upper chamber. This year, […] The post State lawmakers want to peel back the curtain at the nation’s biggest electrical grid operator appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Challenging misconceptions: The crucial role of higher education in West Virginia’s future
In a startling turn during his recent floor speech introducing House Concurrent Resolution 64 — a bill related to Texas’ right to defend its borders — Del. Pat McGeehan exhibited a surprising feat of mental gymnastics. In his 10-minute speech, he transformed his discourse from a focus on the border into a sweeping condemnation of […] The post Challenging misconceptions: The crucial role of higher education in West Virginia’s future appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House committee advances raw milk bill
The House of Delegates Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources advanced a bill that would allow the sale of raw milk in the state. The consumption of raw milk through herd-sharing agreements has been legal in West Virginia since 2016. House Bill 4911 would permit the sale of raw milk as long as the containers […] The post House committee advances raw milk bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas fails on floor of U.S. House
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday night, a stunning defeat for the Republican-led push to impeach a Biden administration Cabinet secretary. All Democrats present and four Republicans voted against the two articles of impeachment. The vote was 214-216. The GOP lawmakers to vote against impeachment were […] The post Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas fails on floor of U.S. House appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bleak future for immigration action after U.S. Senate GOP abandons border security deal
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday walked away from the bipartisan border security and immigration deal clinched after months of painstaking negotiations, siding with their House colleagues and presidential front-runner Donald Trump. The decision to block the bill released just two days ago not only leaves laws in place that GOP lawmakers say have […] The post Bleak future for immigration action after U.S. Senate GOP abandons border security deal appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Contractor for WV public employees system pays itself way more for some drugs than necessary
Express Scripts, the company that handles drug transactions for West Virginia public employees has — in some cases — paid itself more than 100 times as much for the most expensive class of drugs than it could have paid if it had gotten them elsewhere, according to pricing data obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal. […] The post Contractor for WV public employees system pays itself way more for some drugs than necessary appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Kick ‘em out’: A flawed approach to addressing students’ behavioral challenges
At a time when West Virginia is facing an education landscape fraught with challenges, including a dire teacher shortage, low attendance rates, significant learning loss, and steep mental health needs, Senate Bill 614 — a bill that mandates the removal and suspension of elementary school children for certain behaviors and may result in the involvement […] The post Kick ‘em out’: A flawed approach to addressing students’ behavioral challenges appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House approves limits to using community air monitoring data despite concerns on constitutionality
Lawmakers in the House on Tuesday advanced an industry-backed bill that would limit the acceptable uses of data collected from community air quality monitoring programs throughout the state. The passage of House Bill 5018 — which lawmakers approved 76-19 with five members absent and not voting — followed a public hearing last week as well […] The post House approves limits to using community air monitoring data despite concerns on constitutionality appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Senate’s school discipline bill, crafted by a teacher, faces concerns for cost and students
The Senate will consider a bill that backs elementary teachers’ decision to remove violent or threatening students. The legislation could cost cash-strapped school districts, which would be on the hook for creating alternative learning environments for removed students. Senate Education Chair Amy Grady, a public school teacher and bill sponsor, said the bill is necessary […] The post Senate’s school discipline bill, crafted by a teacher, faces concerns for cost and students appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump ‘did not engage in insurrection’ on Jan. 6, new U.S. House resolution claims
WASHINGTON — In a meandering press conference Tuesday that repeated false 2020 election fraud claims, downplayed well-documented violence and name-called journalists, far-right U.S. House members defended former President Donald Trump against any role he may have played in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and several co-sponsors […] The post Trump ‘did not engage in insurrection’ on Jan. 6, new U.S. House resolution claims appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV House approves referendum about noncitizens voting in elections
The West Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure that aims to add language to the state constitution prohibiting non-citizens from voting in elections. House Joint Resolution 21 would let West Virginia voters in the 2024 general election decide whether to add the following line to the constitution: “nor shall any person […] The post WV House approves referendum about noncitizens voting in elections appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
For first time ever, a bill to ban smoking in cars with kids will go to the full Senate for a vote
A bill to curb lung disease rates by prohibiting smoking in cars with children under 16 — legislation that some lawmakers have been trying to push for nearly a decade — advanced through Senate Health on Tuesday. It’s the first time the bill has been considered in the 2024 session and, unlike past years, the […] The post For first time ever, a bill to ban smoking in cars with kids will go to the full Senate for a vote appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump claim of presidential immunity turned down by federal appeals court in D.C.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for charges he schemed to overturn the 2020 election, a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, rejecting Trump’s argument he was immune from criminal prosecution for any alleged conduct during his presidential term. In a unanimous opinion, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals […] The post Trump claim of presidential immunity turned down by federal appeals court in D.C. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘It’s really important for us to be here, to be visible, to be vocal about our recovery’
For Nic Cochran, Monday’s trip to West Virginia’s statehouse was about visibility and representation as much as it was about advocating for laws and policy. As a member of the recovery committee — both by profession and in his personal experience — Cochran said he and others have a unique outlook on life that most […] The post ‘It’s really important for us to be here, to be visible, to be vocal about our recovery’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
State legislators aim to restrict abortion pills, ‘trafficking’ next in states with bans
More than half of state legislatures across the country started their 2024 legislative sessions in January, and plenty of abortion-related bills have already been introduced, 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 will track certain bills that could […] The post State legislators aim to restrict abortion pills, ‘trafficking’ next in states with bans appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House Republicans reject Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’
Legislation hailed as a “Women’s Bill of Rights” advanced in the House on Monday despite fervent pushback from Democrats that the bill does nothing to help women in the state. A group of Republicans shot down a Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay protections for women in the legislation. The bill, strongly supported by Gov. […] The post House Republicans reject Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The Women’s Bill of Rights that women in West Virginia deserve
Last week, Gov. Jim Justice announced the West Virginia Women’s Bill of Rights, a weird name for a transphobic bill that doesn’t give women any rights. In fact, the bill specifically states, “‘Equal’ does not mean ‘same’ or ‘identical’ with respect to equality of the sexes.” The purpose of this bill is to define “woman,” […] The post The Women’s Bill of Rights that women in West Virginia deserve 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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