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West Virginia Watch
Hydrogen tax rules draw fire from industry
The October announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy had selected seven regional hub projects for billions in federal money to spur the production of clean hydrogen was met with considerable fanfare from the fledgling industry, seen as crucial to helping decarbonize the American economy. But when the Biden administration’s Treasury Department released proposed regulations […] The post Hydrogen tax rules draw fire from industry appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
10 years after chemical spill, concerns remain for future incidents
Ten years have passed, but former Charleston mayor Danny Jones still recalls the winter day when a man stopped by city hall and told him something was wrong with the water. It tasted like licorice, he said. Jones followed the man to his office down the street and tried the water himself. “[I] took a […] The post 10 years after chemical spill, concerns remain for future incidents appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Older foster kids are turning up in mental hospitals because the state has nowhere to put them
Hundreds of children in West Virginia foster care, typically older teens, live out of state in group homes. When they age out of the system and return home, more and more of the teenagers, specifically those with disabilities, are ending up in psychiatric hospitals because the state doesn’t know where to put them. Leaders with […] The post Older foster kids are turning up in mental hospitals because the state has nowhere to put them appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
What to expect during West Virginia’s 2024 legislative session
West Virginia’s 60-day legislative session begins Wednesday, and Gov. Jim Justice will give his final State of the State address. After the Republican supermajority successfully fast-tracked many of their bills by suspending the House and Senate rules during last year’s regular session and August 2023’s special legislative session, we can surely expect more of the […] The post What to expect during West Virginia’s 2024 legislative session appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
White House unveils $1 billion for electric and low-emission school buses
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced Monday $1 billion in funding for more than 2,700 electric and low-emission school buses across 37 states. This is a second part of funding of a $5 billion, five-year initiative from the bipartisan infrastructure law. In total, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly […] The post White House unveils $1 billion for electric and low-emission school buses appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump legal problems abound as first test of 2024 presidential campaign nears in Iowa
WASHINGTON — On the cusp of a 2024 election season like none other in U.S. history, former President Donald Trump’s legal and political worlds are set to converge. Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday will argue before a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. that he is immune from prosecution for actions he’s accused of taking while […] The post Trump legal problems abound as first test of 2024 presidential campaign nears in Iowa appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia House completes renovation project in time for legislative session
When the West Virginia Legislature gavels in this week for its 2024 session, the House of Delegates will do so in a newly renovated Chamber. The House Chamber’s first major renovation project since 1995 got underway in August and was mostly completed by mid-December, House Clerk Steve Harrison told reporters Friday. “It was much needed,” […] The post West Virginia House completes renovation project in time for legislative session appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Public universities seek innovative ways to teach humanities as interest wanes
Second in an occasional series on academic changes in state-funded colleges and universities. Read the first part. Last year, Ashley Lawson, a communications major at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, had to take a journalism class online, even though the professor teaching the course was on her own campus. Lawson...
Presidential candidates largely mum about details on how to ‘save’ Social Security
WASHINGTON — The winner of this year’s presidential election could very well be holding the reins when it comes time to address Social Security’s complicated financial situation. The program, which millions of retirees depend on for income stability, will see benefits cut by nearly a quarter in 2033 if Congress and the White House haven’t […] The post Presidential candidates largely mum about details on how to ‘save’ Social Security appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Federal judge reverses 2020 excessive force verdict in favor of former Logan police officer
A law enforcement officer with a history of excessive force allegations will be going back to court following a federal opinion this week that reversed and vacated a 2020 jury verdict finding him not guilty of abusing a Logan County man. According to an opinion issued Wednesday from the fourth circuit court of appeals, the […] The post Federal judge reverses 2020 excessive force verdict in favor of former Logan police officer appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Environmental groups want stronger rules for use of coal ash fill after EPA reveals new risks
Coal ash, what’s left over after coal is burned to generate electricity, is one of the largest waste streams in the U.S., with hundreds of millions of tons of it lying in hundreds of sites across the country. However, a lot of that ash, which can contain a host of toxic metals, isn’t just sitting […] The post Environmental groups want stronger rules for use of coal ash fill after EPA reveals new risks appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fight for congressional majorities launches against backdrop of presidential campaigns
WASHINGTON — The 2024 battle for control of Congress is underway in the states, accompanying the accelerating race for the presidency. Republicans are preparing to funnel money and staff into a select few Senate races in an effort to flip that chamber back to their control, while Democrats are looking toward the districts President Joe […] The post Fight for congressional majorities launches against backdrop of presidential campaigns appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
It’s time for West Virginia to stop honoring Stonewall Jackson who fought to enslave Black people
I typically stop in Weston for gas and food when I’m driving back to the Eastern Panhandle to visit my family. Weston is a popular travel stop when you’re driving in this area of the country, so I imagine that’s why Tesla had the foresight to install its supercharger stations there years ago. My parents […] The post It’s time for West Virginia to stop honoring Stonewall Jackson who fought to enslave Black people appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
As homeless people become more visible, some cities and states take a tougher line
In pushing for a bill of rights for homeless Michiganders, Democratic state Rep. Emily Dievendorf encountered a “cruel irony”: A homeless constituent providing advice on the measure was denied entry to the state Capitol because he didn’t have a photo ID. Under Dievendorf’s bill, homeless people in Michigan would have the right to “move freely” […] The post As homeless people become more visible, some cities and states take a tougher line appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
LG to partner with WV on initiative to grow new business ventures expected to create 275 jobs
The state of West Virginia will partner with Korean-based electronics manufacturer LG on a “strategic initiative” to grow new business ventures in the state, Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday. The project by LG NOVA, LG Electronics’ North America Innovation Center, aims to advance the development of technologies for renewable energy, health care, and industries of […] The post LG to partner with WV on initiative to grow new business ventures expected to create 275 jobs appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Congress was full of postponements in 2023. Now 2024 could be even less productive.
WASHINGTON — Congress got next to nothing done during the past year and could accomplish even less in 2024 as attention shifts to the November elections. House Republican and Senate Democratic leaders reached agreement on bills and resolutions they sent to the president’s desk just 34 times during the first year of the 118th Congress […] The post Congress was full of postponements in 2023. Now 2024 could be even less productive. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
States warn of ‘Band-Aids and duct tape’ for road maintenance
PORTLAND, Ore. — As winter weather began arriving in mountain passes, the Oregon Department of Transportation issued a warning: The state was running out of money to plow roads and could “no longer maintain the state’s transportation system at the same level as we have in the past.” Drivers would need to anticipate delays and […] The post States warn of ‘Band-Aids and duct tape’ for road maintenance appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden to speak at South Carolina church where Black worshippers were murdered
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden as his 2024 campaign gets underway will visit a historic church in South Carolina where Black churchgoers were murdered by a white supremacist in 2015, to give a speech about the dangers of political violence and to make the case for his reelection this November. “The choice for the American […] The post Biden to speak at South Carolina church where Black worshippers were murdered appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
State health department’s top attorney retires amid ties to deleted foster care email scandal
The top attorney for the state health department retired on Tuesday as allegations swirled that she intentionally failed to preserve emails related to a sweeping foster care lawsuit. “Effective Jan. 2, 2024, April Robertson has retired from the State of West Virginia with more than 20 years of service,” a spokesperson for the West Virginia […] The post State health department’s top attorney retires amid ties to deleted foster care email scandal 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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