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West Virginia Watch
Republican National Committee courts election conspiracy theorists to help watch polls
As the Republican National Committee ramps up plans to monitor the polls for illegal voting this fall, the national party is increasingly working with a loose network of anti-fraud extremists who have been found to routinely spread election lies. The extremists also have close ties to the prominent far-right conspiracy theorists who tried to overturn […] The post Republican National Committee courts election conspiracy theorists to help watch polls appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
New rule to close ‘gun show loophole’ finalized by Biden administration
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday finalized a new rule that would require anyone selling a gun to obtain a federal license and conduct background checks. The rule aims to close what’s known as the “gun show loophole.” Gun merchants who sell online, by mail or at flea markets and gun shows until now […] The post New rule to close ‘gun show loophole’ finalized by Biden administration appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Supreme Court decision in Oregon camping ban case could shape homeless policy in WV, advocates said
A decision this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court in a case about an Oregon city’s public camping ban will shape the policies and laws state and local governments throughout the country — including in West Virginia — make in response to homelessness, advocates say. The high court this month will review a decision from […] The post Supreme Court decision in Oregon camping ban case could shape homeless policy in WV, advocates said appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia: Child removal capital of America
I have followed the harm done to children by America’s child welfare systems for nearly half a century, first as a journalist, now as an advocate. In all that time I have never encountered a state so mind-bogglingly fanatical about tearing apart families that even foster care agencies think it’s too much – until now. Yes, […] The post West Virginia: Child removal capital of America appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia woman died in high water incident after severe storms, authorities say
A woman in Wood County died after driving a sports utility vehicle in high water last week, officials say. Gov. Jim Justice spoke of the death during his administration briefing Wednesday afternoon. After initially declaring a state of emergency in Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Nicholas counties for a storm system that caused at least seven […] The post West Virginia woman died in high water incident after severe storms, authorities say appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate spending panel calls for extending pay boost for Forest Service firefighters
WASHINGTON — Members of a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee said at a hearing Wednesday they were focused on keeping pay for wildland firefighters at the higher level set in a 2021 law and urged Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to focus on ways to maintain a healthy timber industry. Senate Interior-Environment Subcommittee Chair Jeff Merkley, […] The post U.S. Senate spending panel calls for extending pay boost for Forest Service firefighters appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Capitol Police chief describes preparations for possible post-election turmoil
WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger sought to ease concerns from the lawmakers in charge of his agency’s budget on Wednesday, saying the department is preparing for major upcoming events — including another potential Jan. 6 — by trying to grow the size of its force and overhauling its intelligence gathering activities. […] The post U.S. Capitol Police chief describes preparations for possible post-election turmoil appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Campaign finance reports: Morrisey leads in money raised since January for governor
Media buys, consultant fees and campaign mailers topped off the list of expenditures over the last few months for the four Republicans vying to be West Virginia’s next governor, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. The campaign finance reports will be the last filed before the competitive May primary, where voters will choose […] The post Campaign finance reports: Morrisey leads in money raised since January for governor appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fatal anomaly exception didn’t spare Alabama mom who needed an abortion
Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, and the third is here. Kelly Shannon was […] The post Fatal anomaly exception didn’t spare Alabama mom who needed an abortion appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley proposes adding radiation exposure bill to stalled tax package
WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri thinks he’s found a path for stalled tax legislation that would temporarily expand the child tax credit and restore business tax breaks that are expired or have sunset under the 2017 tax law. Hawley’s idea is to attach the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to the tax bill […] The post U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley proposes adding radiation exposure bill to stalled tax package appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Head of West Virginia school board association expresses concerns with school discipline bill
As a special session of the West Virginia Legislature draws near, the head of an organization that represents school board members in the state expressed concerns Tuesday with legislation meant to address elementary school discipline. Senate Bill 614 — a high-profile bill aimed at helping elementary teachers remove aggressive, violent or threatening students from their […] The post Head of West Virginia school board association expresses concerns with school discipline bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate action on impeachment of Biden DHS chief postponed
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators returning from recess this week may soon have to deal with the two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that U.S. House Republicans passed last month. Eleven House Republican impeachment managers are expected to walk the two articles of impeachment to the Senate next week, where Majority Leader […] The post U.S. Senate action on impeachment of Biden DHS chief postponed appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Republicans return to D.C. amid dwindling majority, suspense over House speaker post
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans are returning from a two-week recess Tuesday with an even slimmer majority and the potential looming chaos of a second speaker fight in less than a year. Hours before recess began on March 22, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion to vacate the U.S. House speaker’s office, […] The post Republicans return to D.C. amid dwindling majority, suspense over House speaker post appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump immunity claim a ‘radical’ departure from democracy, special counsel Jack Smith says
Donald Trump’s view of absolute immunity for actions he took as president would radically change U.S. democracy and give presidents unprecedented power akin to monarchs rather than elected leaders, U.S. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith wrote in a reply brief to the U.S. Supreme Court late Monday. Smith’s 66-page brief, answering Trump’s argument to […] The post Trump immunity claim a ‘radical’ departure from democracy, special counsel Jack Smith says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
States want to make it harder for health insurers to deny care, but firms might evade enforcement
For decades, Amina Tollin struggled with mysterious, debilitating pain that radiated throughout her body. A few years ago, when a doctor finally diagnosed her with polyneuropathy, a chronic nerve condition, she had begun to use a wheelchair. The doctor prescribed a blood infusion therapy that allowed Tollin, 40, to live her life normally. That is, […] The post States want to make it harder for health insurers to deny care, but firms might evade enforcement appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
After two deaths linked to ambulance shortages, lawmakers call on Justice to fund EMS
In February, on Valentine’s Day, a Wayne County teenager died after waiting for CPR and other emergency care because his local ambulance service didn’t have a crew to respond. A little more than two weeks later, a 911 dispatcher said an ambulance wasn’t available to help a 41-year-old mother in Mingo County who was having […] The post After two deaths linked to ambulance shortages, lawmakers call on Justice to fund EMS appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Legislature’s school discipline bill isn’t the answer to the issue
Gov. Jim Justice will decide the agenda for the legislative special session he’s planning to call, but Senate President Craig Blair is hoping to make some suggestions. Blair said he was talking to Justice about getting the elementary student discipline bill on his list. Specifically, Blair wants Senate Bill 614 — which died on the […] The post West Virginia Legislature’s school discipline bill isn’t the answer to the issue appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban
WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced a shift in his views on abortion laws Monday, releasing a video advocating for state legislatures to make those decisions, not Congress — and was immediately met with strong criticism from an influential anti-abortion group that said it should remain a national debate. “My view is now […] The post Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
So far five tornadoes confirmed for West Virginia last week; damage assessments to continue this week
The National Weather Service in Charleston says five tornadoes have so far been preliminarily confirmed to have hit West Virginia during last Tuesday’s severe weather event. Crews from the weather service will continue to do damage assessments this week. As of Monday morning, a total of nine tornadoes have been confirmed to have hit the […] The post So far five tornadoes confirmed for West Virginia last week; damage assessments to continue this week appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden proposes new student debt relief plan for millions of borrowers
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday will announce the rollout of a student debt forgiveness proposal that the White House believes is narrowly targeted enough to survive legal challenges. The plan, if finalized, would include a one-time cancellation of all accrued interest for 23 million borrowers. It would also cancel the full amount of […] The post Biden proposes new student debt relief plan for millions of borrowers 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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