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West Virginia Watch
Longtime Kanawha County Commissioner Carper steps down
Nearly a year after the start of a police investigation into “an allegation of inappropriate conduct” at a Charleston park, longtime Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper announced Friday afternoon he is stepping down from office. His resignation comes just days before the primary election, in which he was seeking his sixth term as county commissioner. […] The post Longtime Kanawha County Commissioner Carper steps down appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
One year after FDA approves over-the-counter birth control pill, advocates push for more access
Sriha Srinivasan remembers how surprised her mom was two years ago when she learned that birth control pills weren’t sold in stores without a prescription in the United States. “My parents are immigrants from India, and it’s been over the counter there since my mom can remember,” said Srinivasan, a recent graduate of University of […] The post One year after FDA approves over-the-counter birth control pill, advocates push for more access appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF
Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced and debated in legislatures across the country, 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 tracks certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending on […] The post Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation
WASHINGTON — A congressional watchdog in a new report called on the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to improve its enforcement of Title IX compliance in college athletics. The U.S. Government Accountability Office in the report issued Thursday appeared critical of the OCR’s oversight in expanding opportunities for women in college athletics, […] The post Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate in FAA bill adds flights at Washington National, bucking local opponents
WASHINGTON — After hours of uncertainty Thursday, the U.S. Senate struck a deal to reauthorize several Federal Aviation Authority programs for the next five years, though Maryland and Virginia senators were vehemently opposed and lawmakers hoping to attach unrelated provisions lost out. The bill heads to the House next week for final approval. Lawmakers from […] The post U.S. Senate in FAA bill adds flights at Washington National, bucking local opponents appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain
For the second time while serving in the Nevada Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro gave birth last year. And again, she publicly pledged to continue full participation in her duties. As the nation’s groundbreaker when it comes to working moms in a state capital, Nevada made history in 2019 as the only female-majority legislative […] The post ‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV’s Democratic Senate race includes a mayor, a populist and a protester
As election day approaches, voters in the Democratic primary will have the choice between three very different candidates — a progressive mayor, a self-described populist and an infamous former coal operator — all vying to take the congressional seat vacated by longtime Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Between the two frontrunners for the race — Wheeling […] The post WV’s Democratic Senate race includes a mayor, a populist and a protester appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Asylum seekers with criminal records would be more quickly removed under Biden proposal
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced Thursday it’s proposing changes to the asylum system that would allow immigration officials to reject asylum seekers who have a criminal record that poses a threat to national security or public safety and quickly remove them. Those changes will occur during the initial screening stages, a senior U.S. Department […] The post Asylum seekers with criminal records would be more quickly removed under Biden proposal appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has proposed loosening the illegal status of marijuana at the federal level – but that doesn’t mean the federal government now condones recreational or medicinal use in the many states that have legalized the drug. Moving marijuana from the government’s list of the most dangerous and least useful substances to […] The post Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House Republicans pass bill to stop census from counting noncitizens
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans passed a bill Wednesday to add a citizenship question to the census and exclude noncitizens from the official headcount when determining population for representation in Congress and electoral votes. The legislation, which passed on a 206-202 party-line vote, is part of a trend of House GOP bills relating to immigration […] The post U.S. House Republicans pass bill to stop census from counting noncitizens appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
On second try, U.S. House approves GOP bill to ease mining on federal lands
The U.S. House passed, 216-195, a bill Wednesday that would loosen a restriction on mining operations, reversing a vote last week to return the bill to committee. The bill, written by Nevada Republican Mark Amodei, would clarify that mining companies can conduct mining support operations on federal lands, even without first documenting a known mineral […] The post On second try, U.S. House approves GOP bill to ease mining on federal lands appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene fails in attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson
WASHINGTON — Efforts by a small group of far-right U.S. House Republicans to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership role failed Wednesday night, ending weeks of infighting about whether the Louisianan should remain the head of that chamber. Republican lawmakers joined by Democrats voted 359-43 to table, or set aside, the so-called motion to […] The post U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene fails in attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, and screening could save many lives
Many medical organizations have been recommending lung cancer screening for decades for those at high risk of developing the disease. But in 2022, less than 6% of people in the U.S. eligible for screening actually got screened. Compared with other common cancer screenings, lung cancer screening rates fall terribly behind. For comparison, the screening rate […] The post Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, and screening could save many lives appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
More addiction patients can take methadone at home, but some states lag behind
Matt Haney’s home in San Francisco isn’t far from a methadone clinic. The 42-year-old state lawmaker has watched people line up early each morning outside the clinic in the Tenderloin, a community long considered the epicenter of the city’s substance use epidemic. His neighbors wait for the daily dose of methadone that relieves their cravings […] The post More addiction patients can take methadone at home, but some states lag behind appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice walks back his comments that CPS wasn’t aware of Boone teen found dead in her home
Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday walked back his prior comments that Child Protective Services wasn’t aware of a girl who was found last month in a “skeletal state” on the bathroom floor of her Boone County home. “What we had happen, and it shouldn’t have happened, we’ve got basically attorneys that are with [West Virginia […] The post Justice walks back his comments that CPS wasn’t aware of Boone teen found dead in her home appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
FDA chief says feds are preparing for low probability of bird flu moving to humans
WASHINGTON — The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said at a congressional hearing Wednesday the agency is preparing for the possibility the strain of avian influenza affecting dairy cattle could jump to humans, though he cautioned the probability is low. Robert Califf told senators on the panel in charge of his agency’s […] The post FDA chief says feds are preparing for low probability of bird flu moving to humans appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House GOP targets noncitizen voting, even though it’s rare
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson Wednesday unveiled a bill that would require states to verify proof of citizenship to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something already barred under the law. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who played a key role through legal challenges in defending the former president’s efforts to overturn the […] The post U.S. House GOP targets noncitizen voting, even though it’s rare appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Morgantown City Council begins process of repealing panhandling ordinance
The city of Morgantown has started the process of repealing a panhandling ordinance at the center of a lawsuit brought by a legal advocacy organization. Morgantown City Council on Tuesday heard the first reading of an ordinance that would repeal a 2005 law prohibiting the solicitation of people traveling in vehicles on public rights-of-way. Mountain […] The post Morgantown City Council begins process of repealing panhandling ordinance 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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