Columbus
West Virginia Watch
Fluoride in public water has slashed tooth decay, but some states may end mandates
Kentucky state Rep. Mark Hart has been drinking fluoridated water his entire life. In 1954, five years before Hart was born, his home state mandated adding or adjusting levels of the mineral, which occurs naturally in water, in drinking water systems of populations larger than 3,000. But after hearing from a constituent a few years […] The post Fluoride in public water has slashed tooth decay, but some states may end mandates appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden to announce U.S. will construct a port on Gaza coast to deliver humanitarian aid
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is expected to use his State of the Union address Thursday night to announce that the U.S. military will build port infrastructure on the Gaza Strip coast to allow humanitarian aid to arrive by sea. Senior White House officials briefed reporters earlier in the day on the plan that they […] The post Biden to announce U.S. will construct a port on Gaza coast to deliver humanitarian aid appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults. Some states want to boost awareness.
Responding to new research on the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults, some states are trying to boost public awareness of the deadly disease with a focus on Black and rural residents. In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed the routine screening age for colorectal cancer to 45 from 50, based […] The post Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults. Some states want to boost awareness. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Legislature should be taking action on actual public health issues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its newest report on alcohol-related deaths in the United States last week, and it’s not good news. Alcohol deaths in 2020 and 2021 climbed 30% compared to deaths in the years 2016 and 2017, meaning 178,000 people died each year. As the New York Times points out, […] The post West Virginia Legislature should be taking action on actual public health issues appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
AARP has ‘serious concerns’ about Senate version of Social Security tax elimination bill
An organization that advocates for the interests of older West Virginians says it has “serious concerns” about the Senate version of a bill that would eliminate the state income tax on Social Security. House Bill 4880 is up for a vote in the Senate Thursday. As the legislation passed in the House of Delegates last […] The post AARP has ‘serious concerns’ about Senate version of Social Security tax elimination bill appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Health care worker anti-doxxing bill heads to governor following House approval
A bill to prohibit the doxxing of health care workers and their families is on its way to Gov. Jim Justice’s desk this week following approval from the House of Delegates on Wednesday. Senate Bill 477 would make it illegal to publicly publish online any identifying information — including addresses, phone numbers and photos, among […] The post Health care worker anti-doxxing bill heads to governor following House approval appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
School vaccine bill heads to floor without religious exemptions
A bill that would change West Virginia’s law for school-mandated immunizations is on its way to the full Senate for a vote. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources amended House Bill 5105, removing a provision that would have allowed students attending public schools to present a letter stating that their child cannot be […] The post School vaccine bill heads to floor without religious exemptions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House passes $468 billion spending package that would stave off shutdown
WASHINGTON — U.S. House lawmakers cast a broadly bipartisan vote Wednesday to approve a six-bill government funding package, marking one of the few consequential votes on major legislation that chamber has taken since Republicans took the majority more than a year ago. The $468 billion package includes half of the annual spending bills for the […] The post U.S. House passes $468 billion spending package that would stave off shutdown appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump, Biden close in on clinching nominations after broad Super Tuesday victories
WASHINGTON — Despite facing 91 felony counts, hefty civil penalties and a packed 2024 legal calendar, Donald Trump emerged on Super Tuesday as the Republican Party’s presumptive choice as its presidential candidate in November. The former president has secured 995 of the necessary 1,215 GOP delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination, and likely will […] The post Trump, Biden close in on clinching nominations after broad Super Tuesday victories appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Nikki Haley to withdraw from the GOP contest after winning just 1 Super Tuesday state
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley plans to withdraw from the Republican presidential contest Wednesday, ending her increasingly long-shot bid of toppling former President Donald Trump, according to multiple media sources. Haley will give a speech at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Charleston, where she launched her campaign, The Wall Street Journal first reported. While she […] The post Nikki Haley to withdraw from the GOP contest after winning just 1 Super Tuesday state appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Cabell community stands with parks and libraries, against board of education
See what happens when you come for the heart of Huntington? Cabell County parks and libraries are enjoying a wave of support that seems poised to wipe out the fiscally reckless Superintendent Ryan Saxe and the Cabell Board of Education. The BOE is counting on voters having short memories when we head to the ballot […] The post Cabell community stands with parks and libraries, against board of education appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden to push for return of expanded child tax credit in State of the Union speech
WASHINGTON — Top White House economic officials said Tuesday that President Joe Biden will announce how his administration is tackling economic issues — from the housing crisis to restoring the expansion of the child tax credit — during this week’s State of the Union address to Congress and the nation. “Providing more breathing room to […] The post Biden to push for return of expanded child tax credit in State of the Union speech 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.