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West Virginia Watch
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound
When Tanya Gillespie-Lambert goes to an event in a local park in Camden, New Jersey, she takes a handful of brochures about free preschool with her. She has no hesitation about approaching strangers — moms with kids especially — to plug the service in the local public school district, where she’s director of community and […] The post When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia is having a record year for tornadoes. Experts say it’s hard to pinpoint why
As tornado season winds down, West Virginia is having a record year for the storms. As of June 17, the National Weather Service in Charleston had recorded 18 twisters in the Mountain State so far this year, which is a new state record for the most tornadoes in a calendar year. Until this year, the […] The post West Virginia is having a record year for tornadoes. Experts say it’s hard to pinpoint why appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Opioid settlement tracking system still to come, but only for funds distributed by First Foundation
A tracking system for opioid settlement dollars allocated by the West Virginia First Foundation is on its way, though it’s still unclear when it will launch, according to State Auditor J.B. McCuskey. To date, no money has been distributed by the First Foundation, which was created last year as a private nonprofit to oversee the […] The post Opioid settlement tracking system still to come, but only for funds distributed by First Foundation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations
The headlines were the stuff of nightmares. One Colorado funeral home owner let the body of a woman decompose for two years in a hearse parked outside a house he rented, while hoarding the cremated remains of dozens of others inside. Last year, authorities discovered nearly 200 improperly stored bodies at another Colorado funeral home […] The post Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Congress should take proactive steps to address flooding in West Virginia and Appalachia
Since 2013, the federal government has declared more than 20 flooding disasters across Central Appalachia — including nine in West Virginia alone. At least 230 lives were lost in these disasters in the region, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency spent nearly $1 billion in recovery efforts to pick up the pieces. In addition to […] The post Congress should take proactive steps to address flooding in West Virginia and Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
New support group at WVU aims to help parents awaiting autism evaluation, services
West Virginia parents may face long waiting periods to get their child services for autism, or even to see a provider for an evaluation. A new support and education group at West Virginia University aims to help them in the meantime. The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is starting Mind the Gap in August. […] The post New support group at WVU aims to help parents awaiting autism evaluation, services appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Freedom isn’t free
You can’t understand the scope of 122,000 names until you see them on a wall. Stand at the foot of the National Monument to Freedom, recently dedicated by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, and you’ll see all of them, soaring three or four stories above your head. Each name, taken from the 1870 census, […] The post Freedom isn’t free appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Frustrating’ partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills?
WASHINGTON — The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship. Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm […] The post ‘Frustrating’ partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills? appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Judge dismisses lawsuit against Justice, Sorsaia over West Virginia jails conditions
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against state leaders over conditions in West Virginia jails. United States District Judge Irene Berger issued the order Tuesday, finding that the plaintiffs do not have standing to bring the lawsuit against defendants Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mark Sorsaia. “The Plaintiffs […] The post Judge dismisses lawsuit against Justice, Sorsaia over West Virginia jails conditions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general
WASHINGTON — Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna plans to force a vote as early as next week to invoke the House’s rarely used power of “inherent contempt” to levy a daily fine against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in an attempt to obtain audio tapes from a Justice Department special counsel’s interview of President […] The post Florida U.S. Rep. Luna changes course in campaign against attorney general appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout
WASHINGTON — Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for President Joe Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee Tuesday, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so after Biden’s poor performance in last week’s presidential debate that has sent the party reeling four months before the November presidential election. Biden has acknowledged a shaky debate […] The post Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact
Nevada voters may decide in November whether they should join three dozen other states in requiring voters to present valid identification before casting a ballot. And Maine may not be far behind, as the push for voter ID requirements grows nationwide despite conflicting studies over their effects. Conservative organizers in Nevada say they have gathered […] The post More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice appoints Ryan Browning to Wayne County House seat
Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday appointed Ryan Browning, of Wayne County, to fill the House of Delegates seat vacated by Del. Mark Ross, R-Wayne, earlier this year. Ross, a retired school teacher, resigned from office on May 21, according to a resignation letter sent to the governor’s office that day. The letter did not include […] The post Justice appoints Ryan Browning to Wayne County House seat appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia’s soft drink tax is repealed this week
Beginning this week, for the first time in more than 70 years, West Virginia has no tax on soft drinks. Lawmakers approved a bill repealing the tax during the 2022 regular legislative session. The legislation repealed the tax effective July 1. During his revenue report Monday, Gov. Jim Justice noted the tax had been eliminated […] The post West Virginia’s soft drink tax is repealed this week appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Kirby appointed judge, resigns from House of Delegates
Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Del. Todd Kirby to be circuit judge in Raleigh County. He replaces Judge Robert Burnside, who announced last year he would not seek reelection. Kirby, R-Raleigh, resigned from the House of Delegates effective Tuesday, according to the letter he sent to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw Tuesday. “I am grateful for […] The post Kirby appointed judge, resigns from House of Delegates appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling
WASHINGTON — A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision absolves him. New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could […] The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses
WASHINGTON – Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation. In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the […] The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Modern-day ‘Comstocks’ look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion
Mark Lee Dickson says he’s been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people […] The post Modern-day ‘Comstocks’ look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Babydog is not West Virginia’s Li’l Sebastian. She’s ‘puppaganda.’
On West Virginia Day, Gov. Jim Justice held a dedication to the four new murals in the state Capitol rotunda. The next day, we heard rumors that Babydog, Justice’s prized English bulldog, was in the murals. Sure enough, when I looked through the state Legislature’s photo gallery, there she was … right between a painter […] The post Babydog is not West Virginia’s Li’l Sebastian. She’s ‘puppaganda.’ 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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