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West Virginia Watch
House Republicans reject Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’
Legislation hailed as a “Women’s Bill of Rights” advanced in the House on Monday despite fervent pushback from Democrats that the bill does nothing to help women in the state. A group of Republicans shot down a Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay protections for women in the legislation. The bill, strongly supported by Gov. […] The post House Republicans reject Democrat’s attempt to include equal pay in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The Women’s Bill of Rights that women in West Virginia deserve
Last week, Gov. Jim Justice announced the West Virginia Women’s Bill of Rights, a weird name for a transphobic bill that doesn’t give women any rights. In fact, the bill specifically states, “‘Equal’ does not mean ‘same’ or ‘identical’ with respect to equality of the sexes.” The purpose of this bill is to define “woman,” […] The post The Women’s Bill of Rights that women in West Virginia deserve appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted
Two of the key studies cited by plaintiffs and judges as evidence that medication abortion should be pulled from the market or heavily restricted have been retracted because of undeclared conflicts of interest and unreliable findings, academic publisher Sage announced Monday. States Newsroom was the first to report last year that Sage had opened an […] The post Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Intense opposition to U.S. Senate immigration deal quickly emerges
WASHINGTON — The proposed global security funding legislation that includes major bipartisan updates to immigration policy encountered opposition from members of both parties Monday, especially Republicans upset by the Biden administration’s handling of border security, charting a tumultuous path for passage in the Senate this week. The deal on immigration policy, negotiated for months by […] The post Intense opposition to U.S. Senate immigration deal quickly emerges appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Details of proposed major overhaul of U.S. immigration law, global aid package unveiled
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday night released a $118.28 billion global security package that includes a long-anticipated overhaul of immigration law negotiated by a bipartisan trio of senators. “The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy […] The post Details of proposed major overhaul of U.S. immigration law, global aid package unveiled appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Clean power advocates eye grid operator’s planning reforms warily
PJM, the nation’s biggest grid operator, is changing how it plans transmission upgrades needed to ensure reliable service for the 65 million people who live in its footprint. The effort comes after plenty of criticism of how the regional transmission organization, responsible for coordinating the flow of electricity in all or parts of 13 states […] The post Clean power advocates eye grid operator’s planning reforms warily appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump federal election interference trial delayed pending appeal
A federal judge on Friday officially postponed former President Donald Trump’s trial on charges he conspired to overturn the 2020 election results. The trial, which had been scheduled to begin March 4, will be delayed while an appeals court rules on Trump’s claim that he can’t be prosecuted because the charges stem from actions he […] The post Trump federal election interference trial delayed pending appeal appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Federal agency says Wildlife Center has had months to comply with regulations
A federal agency is pushing back against Gov. Jim Justice’s claim earlier this week that its “abrupt decision” to no longer recognize a longstanding variance at the West Virginia Wildlife Center — temporarily closing the Upshur County facility — was part of a politically motivated effort to “punish” the state. West Virginia’s Groundhog Day tradition […] The post Federal agency says Wildlife Center has had months to comply with regulations appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House floor debate heats up over resolution to ‘support’ Texas amid struggles at the border
One delegate’s temper flared on the House floor Friday as lawmakers considered a resolution to pledge support for the state of Texas amid what Republicans have called a “dereliction” of responsibility by the federal government on the southern border. House Concurrent Resolution 64 asserts that the federal government — though it does not specifically name […] The post House floor debate heats up over resolution to ‘support’ Texas amid struggles at the border appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Dozens of ‘friend of the court’ briefs backing abortion pill access arrive at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has been inundated with dozens of organizations seeking to weigh in on the future of the abortion pill by filing “friend of the court” briefs. The groups include governors, attorneys general, state lawmakers and members of Congress as well as medical organizations, civil rights groups and pharmaceutical companies — […] The post Dozens of ‘friend of the court’ briefs backing abortion pill access arrive at Supreme Court appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fed keeps interest rates same, as expected, with changes likely months away
The Fed held key interest rates steady again Wednesday, as expected, and signaled that a decision that could affect everything from credit card rates to the housing market to new business creation could still be months away. It was the fourth consecutive time the central bank has left the rate unchanged since its September 2023 […] The post Fed keeps interest rates same, as expected, with changes likely months away appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House bill would increase Medicaid recipients access to timely dental care, proponents say
A bill moving in the House of Delegates would help Medicaid recipients get timely access to needed dental care, proponents say. House Bill 4933 would make it so that dentures do not count against the $1,000 yearly cap that Medicaid recipients have for dental coverage. Medicaid currently covers diagnostic, preventative and restorative dental services, with […] The post House bill would increase Medicaid recipients access to timely dental care, proponents say appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Honaker updates lawmakers about jails and prisons investigation
The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security’s newly appointed inspector general told lawmakers Thursday that he plans to complete an investigation into the state’s prisons and jails by this spring, with a final report submitted for review possibly in June. DHS Inspector General Mike Honaker said Thursday that the House Committee on Jails and Prisons […] The post Honaker updates lawmakers about jails and prisons investigation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
House rolls out bundle of bills to tackle West Virginia’s child care shortage
Lawmakers are hoping to encourage more businesses to offer child care to employees through tax credits. On Thursday, a committee in the House of Delegates signed off on three bills aimed at addressing a statewide childcare shortage. Multiple counties don’t have a child care single provider, and data shows that more than 26,000 kids in […] The post House rolls out bundle of bills to tackle West Virginia’s child care shortage appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘A product that’s killing people’: Lawmakers chastise social media giants for harm to kids
Members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee castigated executives at leading social media companies Wednesday, calling for more to be done to shield children from sexual exploitation, drug dealing, self-harm encouragement and other damaging content. In one tense exchange, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley demanded to know if Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, had […] The post ‘A product that’s killing people’: Lawmakers chastise social media giants for harm to kids appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
State’s Groundhog Day tradition will go on this year, Justice says
West Virginia’s annual Groundhog Day festivities will go on this year after all, Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday. Justice said Wednesday the state Wildlife Center, home to French Creek Freddie, West Virginia’s answer to Punxsutawney Phil, had been temporarily closed because of a federal licensing issue related to a permit for a secondary containment fence. […] The post State’s Groundhog Day tradition will go on this year, Justice says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WVU made headway on finances but still has work to do, Gee tells lawmakers
West Virginia University still has work to do to shore up their budget deficit tied to declining student enrollment and rising operating costs. E. Gordon Gee, president of the university, told state lawmakers on Wednesday that eliminating hundreds of faculty and staff jobs, cutting 28 academic programs and reducing administrative overhead helped make up a […] The post WVU made headway on finances but still has work to do, Gee tells lawmakers appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Private equity’s growing footprint in home health care draws scrutiny
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Help at Home employed nearly 800 caregivers scattered across every county in Alabama, helping 1,100 older and disabled clients with activities such as bathing, housework and meal preparation. And then suddenly, it was gone. Alabama’s largest provider of home care services said it abruptly left the state last fall because the state’s […] The post Private equity’s growing footprint in home health care draws scrutiny appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Senate approves bill proponents say will add accountability for recovery residences
The West Virginia Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would add more oversight and accountability measures for recovery residences in the state. Senate Bill 475 has bipartisan support, with proponents for the bill saying it would help to ensure that recovery residences are operating in an appropriate manner. The effort to add state-sponsored […] The post Senate approves bill proponents say will add accountability for recovery residences appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice: West Virginia Groundhog Day event canceled amid temporary Wildlife Center closure
West Virginia’s Groundhog Day festivities have been canceled this year after a federal licensing issue caused the temporary closure of the state Wildlife Center, Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday. Justice said the Upshur County facility is temporarily closed after the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided not to recognize “indefinite variance” for a “secondary containment fence” […] The post Justice: West Virginia Groundhog Day event canceled amid temporary Wildlife Center closure 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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