Columbus
West Virginia Watch
A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula
As the summer travel season approaches, new parents may be navigating airports with their babies — and the complexities of keeping them fed. Despite federal guidelines for airport agents laying out how to treat nursing moms, stories about problem encounters with security sometimes go viral. In 2023, actress and singer Keke Palmer said she was […] The post A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
After lawsuit against state Republicans, lawmakers change law about presidential electors procedure
During last week’s three-day special legislative session, West Virginia’s Republican-led Legislature passed a bill that removes a requirement that political parties hold statewide conventions to nominate presidential electors. The change comes after a Cabell County man filed a lawsuit against state Republican party chairman Matt Herridge last month alleging the party’s plans to nominate its […] The post After lawsuit against state Republicans, lawmakers change law about presidential electors procedure appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lawmakers, governor upset with results of West Virginia’s special session
Last week’s long-awaited special session of the West Virginia Legislature was called a “disappointment” and a “failure,” and there was much tension between the Senate and House of Delegates. Gov. Jim Justice called the special session to address the state budget passed on the last night of the regular legislative session in March. Many lawmakers […] The post Lawmakers, governor upset with results of West Virginia’s special session appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients
WASHINGTON — When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldn’t transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasn’t expecting congressional action to solve the problem. He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States […] The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bearing flowers and tradition, the next generation takes on the duty of Decoration Day
While their friends are cannonballing into the city pool this weekend, my sons will spend the day in an Eastern Kentucky cemetery, placing flowers on the graves of relatives they never knew. We are going back home on Decoration Day — a folk tradition practiced by generations of Appalachians and Southerners dedicated to visiting cemeteries […] The post Bearing flowers and tradition, the next generation takes on the duty of Decoration Day appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice says ongoing investigation into death of 14-year-old will determine what went wrong
Questions remain about what went wrong in the state’s interaction with 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller before she was found dead “in a skeletal state” in her Boone County home. On Friday, Gov. Jim Justice said an ongoing investigation will try to determine if West Virginia State Police or Child Protective Services could have done more to […] The post Justice says ongoing investigation into death of 14-year-old will determine what went wrong appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law
WASHINGTON — Doctors from throughout the country posted a public letter this week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure health care professionals can perform abortions in every state when that procedure is essential “stabilizing treatment” under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Thousands of doctors, organized by the advocacy group The Committee […] The post Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice ends emergency declaration for West Virginia’s jails and prisons
Gov. Jim Justice on Friday signed a proclamation to end the emergency declaration put in place two years ago for the state’s overcrowded and understaffed prisons and jails. The end of the declaration means that moving forward, and for the first time since August 2022, members of the West Virginia National Guard will no longer […] The post Justice ends emergency declaration for West Virginia’s jails and prisons appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough row to hoe
WASHINGTON — Republicans moved their long-awaited new farm bill through the U.S. House Agriculture Committee this week, despite opposition from most Democrats that could stall further advancement of the bill. The massive $1.5 trillion legislation would set policy and funding levels for key food, agriculture and conservation programs for the next five years. After a […] The post Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough row to hoe appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House panel debates nutrition benefit changes in GOP farm bill proposal
WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee clashed late into the evening Thursday over funding for food and nutrition programs as part of Republicans’ sweeping proposal for the new five-year farm bill. The committee’s $1.5 trillion omnibus farm bill would set policy and funding levels for agriculture and conservation programs for […] The post U.S. House panel debates nutrition benefit changes in GOP farm bill proposal appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Forced sterilizations for people with disabilities decried by members of Congress
WASHINGTON — Three members of Congress introduced a resolution Thursday that’s intended to bring attention to the experiences and challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to reproductive rights. Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley announced the resolution during a press conference with advocates just steps from the U.S. Capitol, saying that under a Supreme […] The post Forced sterilizations for people with disabilities decried by members of Congress appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins
WASHINGTON — As Democrats continue to ramp up their push against the oil industry, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others on Thursday called out big oil companies and their executives for high gas prices heading into the heavily traveled Memorial Day weekend. Republicans in turn have blamed President Joe Biden’s energy policies for high […] The post Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help.
Groups that assist crime victims across the United States are bracing for significant financial pain after the amount available from a major federal victim services fund plunged $700 million this year. Congress recently lowered spending to $1.2 billion from the fund, which provides grants to nonprofit and local programs across the country. This latest round […] The post Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor. The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals […] The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia joins Department of Justice antitrust suit against Live Nation
West Virginia is one of 29 states along with Washington D.C. that have signed onto an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, alleging the company stifled competition by monopolizing significant markets of the entertainment industry. The lawsuit was spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Justice and filed in the U.S. District Court […] The post West Virginia joins Department of Justice antitrust suit against Live Nation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Mine safety advocates urge Senate committee to do more to help miners with black lung disease
The U.S. Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions heard from mine safety advocates Wednesday about ways to make mines safer and help those who develop black lung disease get the health care and disability benefits that they deserve. The hearing comes weeks after the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a rule limiting […] The post Mine safety advocates urge Senate committee to do more to help miners with black lung disease appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions
Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina — the only female employee there. “I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could […] The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia’s kids need continuous health coverage
While West Virginia has done an outstanding job of getting folks the health care coverage they need, there is room for improvement when it comes to covering the state’s most precious resource — our kids. According to a new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families on the process dubbed “Medicaid unwinding,” four […] The post West Virginia’s kids need continuous health coverage appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
After man dies due to scalding whirlpool, lawmakers get limited info from state facilities director
The head of state-run facilities appeared before lawmakers on Tuesday to answer questions about an elderly patient who died due to burns after being left unattended in scalding water. There was limited information offered up about the patient’s death or systemic problems with high water temperatures at the Hopemont Hospital, where the incident occurred. “I […] The post After man dies due to scalding whirlpool, lawmakers get limited info from state facilities director appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Watch
1K+
Posts
10M+
Views
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.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.