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West Virginia Watch
Justice signs bill aimed at improving communication, accountability in troubled foster care system
As the state faces a sweeping lawsuit about its overburdened child welfare system, a bill aimed at improving foster care communication and accountability has been signed into law. Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill on Tuesday — a day ahead of his deadline to sign legislation passed during the recent session. House Bill 4975 would […] The post Justice signs bill aimed at improving communication, accountability in troubled foster care system appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden pledges federal dollars for ‘entire cost’ to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge
President Joe Biden called Tuesday for the federal government to foot the bill to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore following its collapse earlier in the day. The ongoing search-and-rescue operation led by the U.S. Coast Guard is the top priority for now, Biden said in brief remarks from the White House on […] The post Biden pledges federal dollars for ‘entire cost’ to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication
WASHINGTON — The future of medication abortion access in the United States went in front of the U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, where several justices appeared somewhat skeptical as anti-abortion organizations argued use of the pharmaceutical should be moved back to what was in place before 2016. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, speaking on behalf […] The post U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Months into Wheeling camping ban, city’s unhoused people forced to move again
WHEELING, W.Va. — Derek Lantz and about 10 other of Wheeling’s homeless services providers packed into his office at the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center one afternoon last week and started making plans. A “notice to vacate” sign had been posted across the street, at a state-owned parking lot where dozens of the city’s unhoused people […] The post Months into Wheeling camping ban, city’s unhoused people forced to move again appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
School voucher proponents spend big to overcome rural resistance
AUSTIN, Texas — In rural Texas, public schools are the cultural heart of small towns. People pack the high school stadium for Friday night football games, and FFA classes prepare the next generation for the agricultural life. In many places, more people work for the school district than for any other employer. For years, many […] The post School voucher proponents spend big to overcome rural resistance appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Gov. Justice an hour late to his own briefing, questioned on punctuality
Gov. Jim Justice has until Wednesday, March 27, to sign or veto bills from the 2024 regular legislative session. Bills that he takes no action on will automatically become law. There are 279 bills on Justice’s desk for consideration. So far, 88 bills have been signed and only one has been vetoed — funding for […] The post Gov. Justice an hour late to his own briefing, questioned on punctuality appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Organizers urge ‘no’ on May Cabell school levy in hope of further negotiation, collaboration
In light of a West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision issued earlier this month, some residents in Cabell County — upset with what they see as attempts to underfund the county’s parks and libraries — are asking voters to oppose the upcoming school excess levy and urge the school district to return funding to […] The post Organizers urge ‘no’ on May Cabell school levy in hope of further negotiation, collaboration appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fearing political violence, more states ban firearms at polling places
Facing increased threats to election workers and superheated political rhetoric from former President Donald Trump and his supporters, more states are considering firearm bans at polling places and ballot drop boxes ahead of November’s presidential election. This month, New Mexico became the latest state to restrict guns where people vote or hand in ballots, joining […] The post Fearing political violence, more states ban firearms at polling places appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice signs 15 bills as deadline for his action approaches next Wednesday
Bills to close West Virginia’s marital rape loophole, prohibit smoking in cars with minors and protect teachers who discuss “scientific theories” in classrooms were signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice on Friday, making them officially part of state code. Those bills were among 15 signed by Justice on Friday, bringing the total number of […] The post Justice signs 15 bills as deadline for his action approaches next Wednesday appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files resolution to oust Mike Johnson as U.S. House speaker
Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a resolution Friday to remove U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, using the same parliamentary measure that led to Johnson ascending to the speakership last year. Following a bipartisan vote to approve the six remaining government spending bills for fiscal 2024, Greene filed a motion […] The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files resolution to oust Mike Johnson as U.S. House speaker appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The U.S. Senate repealed Iraq war authorizations a year ago. In the House, they’re frozen.
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republican leaders have spent the last year holding up a broadly bipartisan, Senate-approved bill that would repeal the authorizations for use of military force from the 1990s and early 2000s that were intended for the wars in Iraq. The Senate approved the legislation following a 66-30 vote last March, but it […] The post The U.S. Senate repealed Iraq war authorizations a year ago. In the House, they’re frozen. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Congress rushes to approve $1.2 trillion spending package ahead of midnight deadline
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House approved a broadly bipartisan $1.2 trillion spending package Friday, sending the legislation to the Senate ahead of a midnight deadline. Senators have just hours to clear the measure for President Joe Biden’s signature, otherwise parts of the federal government will begin a funding lapse early Saturday. Meeting that benchmark will […] The post Congress rushes to approve $1.2 trillion spending package ahead of midnight deadline appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Taxpayers were overcharged for patient meds. Then came the lawyers.
Shalina Chatlani examined the health care system in Mississippi as a part of The Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship. This story cannot be republished. In 2018, when Mike DeWine was Ohio’s attorney general, he began investigating an obscure corner of the health care industry. He believed that insurers were inflating prescription drug prices through management companies […] The post Taxpayers were overcharged for patient meds. Then came the lawyers. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Energy regulator nominees face Senate committee
President Joe Biden’s three nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission faced questions from a U.S. Senate committee Thursday, with senators probing their views on fossil fuels and climate policy, the reliability of the nation’s electric grid and gas delivery system and how to handle the pressing need for new electric transmission lines, among other […] The post Energy regulator nominees face Senate committee appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Massive $1.2 trillion spending package that would avert a shutdown released by Congress
WASHINGTON — Congress released the final six government funding bills early Thursday, starting off a sprint toward the Friday midnight deadline to wrap up work that was supposed to be finished nearly six months ago. The bipartisan agreement on the $1.2 trillion spending package, which emerged just before 3 a.m., came less than two weeks […] The post Massive $1.2 trillion spending package that would avert a shutdown released by Congress appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Hollowed out
This story was originally published by PublicSource, a nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. For more of its journalism, visit www.publicsource.org. This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. June 7, 2022. Abby Tennant woke in the dead of the night. Sharp pain pierced her chest, and she felt the urge to vomit. She roused […] The post Hollowed out 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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