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Another stopgap spending bill in the works as Congress struggles to avert shutdown
WASHINGTON — Congress on Wednesday appeared to be on track to pass a third deadline extension for at least some of the government funding bills that were supposed to become law more than three months ago — putting off a potential government shutdown. The move, while not final, would give the Republican House, Democratic Senate […] The post Another stopgap spending bill in the works as Congress struggles to avert shutdown appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Regular session kicks off with Senate consideration of 36 fast track bills
Lawmakers in the 84th Legislature gaveled in Wednesday for the start of the 60 day regular session, immediately considering dozens of bills that nearly became law last year. The first day of the 2024 session came with a tonal shift compared to 2023, when lawmakers repeatedly suspended rules in both chambers to push legislation through. […] The post Regular session kicks off with Senate consideration of 36 fast track bills appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Which states will join the new summer meal program for low-income kids? Here’s the list.
WASHINGTON — Children from low-income families in 35 states, four tribes and all U.S. territories will now receive permanent food assistance during the summer months when schools are closed, leaving children in 15 states excluded from the benefits. Low-income families will now receive $40 each month for each eligible school-aged child, up to $120, to […] The post Which states will join the new summer meal program for low-income kids? Here’s the list. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Immigration negotiations in Congress center on parole, asylum policy
WASHINGTON — A deal on changes to immigration policy remained elusive on Tuesday for top U.S. Senate negotiators. Those leading the talks — Sens. James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema, independent of Arizona — have worked for weeks to strike a deal between the White House and Senate […] The post Immigration negotiations in Congress center on parole, asylum policy appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The 2024 legislative session starts today. Here’s what lawmakers say they’re working on
The West Virginia Legislature will gavel in Wednesday for what will be the last regular session of Gov. Jim Justice’s eight years in office. The state will learn more about Justice’s priorities for the upcoming session during his State of the State address Wednesday evening. Justice is running for U.S. Senate. House and Senate leaders […] The post The 2024 legislative session starts today. Here’s what lawmakers say they’re working on appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Isn’t it time for the West Virginia Legislature to face the truth about Sharpe Hospital?
During the 2023 legislative session, the West Virginia Legislature enacted House Bill 2006 that split the Department of Health and Human Resources into three agencies amid criticism of mismanagement, nonfeasance and retaliation. The bill required DHHR to create a “long-term sustainability plan for each state health facility” by Dec. 1, 2023. The deadline has passed […] The post Isn’t it time for the West Virginia Legislature to face the truth about Sharpe Hospital? appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Three-judge federal panel grills Trump lawyer on claim of presidential immunity
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump appeared in federal court Tuesday seeking immunity from charges that he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly fed lies to supporters who turned violent on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump, who is leading polls in the 2024 Republican presidential primary field, watched while his attorney D. […] The post Three-judge federal panel grills Trump lawyer on claim of presidential immunity appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Capitol Police union says not enough done to improve security after Jan. 6 attack
WASHINGTON — The union representing U.S. Capitol Police is warning that the federal law enforcement agency doesn’t have enough manpower to address threats to members of Congress and is criticizing the Architect of the Capitol for not implementing some of the changes proposed following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. “We’ve never seen a threat environment […] The post U.S. Capitol Police union says not enough done to improve security after Jan. 6 attack appeared first on 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.
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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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