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West Virginia Watch
U.S. Rep. Massie joins move to oust Speaker Johnson, who vows: ‘I am not resigning’
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called on U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to resign during a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, throwing more uncertainty into that chamber just months before the November elections. Massie told reporters after the meeting and just before a Johnson press conference he believed the votes […] The post U.S. Rep. Massie joins move to oust Speaker Johnson, who vows: ‘I am not resigning’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Appeals court blocks West Virginia transgender athlete ban
The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked West Virginia’s ban on transgender athletes, finding the law violates transgender students’ rights under Title IX, a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs. The case, B.P.J. vs. the West Virginia Board of Education, was filed in May 2021 on behalf […] The post Appeals court blocks West Virginia transgender athlete ban appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
As consumers lose millions to gift card scams, lawmakers pressure businesses
When Denise Brown peruses the tightly packed gift card display at her local CVS in Harlem, New York, she sees the perfect present for her grandson: a Sony PlayStation gift card. Others, acting in bad faith, see these gift card displays as easy money in one of the country’s costliest and most common consumer scams: […] The post As consumers lose millions to gift card scams, lawmakers pressure businesses appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lawmakers try to sort out why state didn’t spend millions earmarked for people with disabilities
State lawmakers tried on Monday to understand why the Department of Human Services left millions of dollars unspent that were supposed to provide services for people with disabilities. A DOHS report showed that in fiscal year 2023, around $29 million dollars went unused. The department, previously known as the West Virginia Department of Health and […] The post Lawmakers try to sort out why state didn’t spend millions earmarked for people with disabilities appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
You won’t win over West Virginians by taking cheap shots at the Mountain State
There’s a little section of X that many of us still refer to as West Virginia Twitter even though the social media site has changed its name. West Virginia Twitter talks about a variety of topics, but everyone really comes together whenever someone says something negative about the Mountain State. Last week, it was about […] The post You won’t win over West Virginians by taking cheap shots at the Mountain State appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump makes one last presidential immunity argument to the U.S. Supreme Court
Hours after Donald Trump sat in a New York courtroom and became the first former president in U.S. history to be a defendant in a criminal trial Monday, his attorneys filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court renewing his claim of absolute presidential immunity in another criminal case against him. In a reply brief […] The post Trump makes one last presidential immunity argument to the U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump on trial: Former president faces criminal charges of falsifying business records
NEW YORK — The trial of former President Donald Trump kicked off Monday in a lower Manhattan courtroom, marking the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president has been tried on criminal charges. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, appeared in the state of New York courtroom, where he is charged with falsifying […] The post Trump on trial: Former president faces criminal charges of falsifying business records appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Officials says National Guard will be out of West Virginia jails soon
West Virginia’s jail system soon will no longer need staffing support from the West Virginia National Guard, lawmakers were told Monday. Eighty members of the National Guard — down from 413 in January — are still working in jail facilities in the state, Pat Mirandy, chief of staff for the state Division of Corrections and […] The post Officials says National Guard will be out of West Virginia jails soon appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Raines, a white-haired man in a red track suit and matching University of Alabama ballcap, cracked jokes as physical therapist Brad Ellis led him through a series of exercises designed to strengthen his legs. Raines, who is 79, pretended to be in pain, but his grin belied his tone of mock […] The post ‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Families urge Justice, lawmakers to restore funding to programs that help people with disabilities
More than 100 people — most wearing red shirts saying, “Don’t cut our lifeline” — showed up to the West Virginia Capitol on Sunday to urge lawmakers to restore funding to a program that provides necessary services to adults and children with disabilities. A state-offered waiver program for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (known […] The post Families urge Justice, lawmakers to restore funding to programs that help people with disabilities appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV in-home health care company lays off workers after state leaders fail to address Medicaid issues
Village Caregiving is a Barboursville-based company that provides in-home senior caregiving — helping older West Virginians to retain their independence. In one of the nation’s most elderly states, a staff shortage can delay in-home care; it may even force some people to enter a nursing home. This week, the company laid off nurses along with […] The post WV in-home health care company lays off workers after state leaders fail to address Medicaid issues appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Lawmakers return to Charleston for first interims since end of session
Lawmakers will return to Charleston this weekend for interim meetings, marking their first return to the state Capitol since the 2024 regular session wrapped last month. From Sunday through Tuesday, legislators are scheduled to receive reports and updates on various state programs and departments as well as proposed bills that failed to become law during […] The post Lawmakers return to Charleston for first interims since end of session appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bills related to ‘abortion coercion’ and ‘trafficking’ advance in Republican-led legislatures
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 Bills related to ‘abortion coercion’ and ‘trafficking’ advance in Republican-led legislatures appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump’s repeated escapes from political damage to be tested in NYC trial
Donald Trump on Monday in a New York City courtroom will make history as the first former U.S. president to stand trial in criminal proceedings. And it raises new issues for the presumptive Republican nominee for president in November, even as he builds a political brand that so far has seemed immune from accusations of […] The post Trump’s repeated escapes from political damage to be tested in NYC trial appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
April 2 had record number of tornadoes for West Virginia, NWS warning area
The National Weather Service in Charleston has so far confirmed 10 tornadoes touched down in West Virginia on April 2, setting a new state record for the number of twisters recorded on one calendar day. The state’s previous record for tornadoes on one day was seven, set both on April 4, 1974 and June 2, […] The post April 2 had record number of tornadoes for West Virginia, NWS warning area appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Black voters were key to Biden’s 2020 win. But money woes make some question their support in 2024
The economy is top of mind for caregiver and driver Jennifer Garner as the U.S. heads toward the November presidential election. Garner, 46, lives in Cleveland and can bring in about $800 a week working extra hours at both jobs. But between debt payments on $56,000 in student loans and $1,300 in rent — among […] The post Black voters were key to Biden’s 2020 win. But money woes make some question their support in 2024 appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Advocates laud newly finalized EPA rule to regulate PFAS in drinking water for the first time
Environmentalists in West Virginia are feeling relief this week as the federal Environmental Protection Agency will begin to formally regulate what’s commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” in drinking water for the first time ever. The new EPA rule was released Wednesday and will reduce the exposure to dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, […] The post Advocates laud newly finalized EPA rule to regulate PFAS in drinking water for the first time appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate Republicans push for Mayorkas impeachment trial
WASHINGTON — More than 40 U.S. Senate Republicans lobbied Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday to hold a full impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Schumer and other Democrats have indicated they’d be open to immediately voting to dismiss the House-passed articles of impeachment rather than holding a trial in the Senate. The […] The post U.S. Senate Republicans push for Mayorkas impeachment trial appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Small business owners ask U.S. House tax writers to extend Trump-era deductions
WASHINGTON — As Congress gears up for negotiations ahead of the 2017 tax law’s expiration, economists and small business owners urged U.S. lawmakers Thursday to extend or make permanent the Trump-era tax cuts. Business owners from West Virginia and Wisconsin testified at a hearing before members of the House Committee on Ways and Means, advocating […] The post Small business owners ask U.S. House tax writers to extend Trump-era deductions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Democrats join in U.S. Senate vote to repeal Biden rule tracking tailpipe emissions
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to roll back a Transportation Department rule that targeted greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles traveling on highways. The rule, issued by the Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration in December, established greenhouse gas reductions as one of the 18 performance measures for state transportation departments and local planning organizations […] The post Democrats join in U.S. Senate vote to repeal Biden rule tracking tailpipe emissions 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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