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West Virginia Watch
Jails’ medical provider asks to seal contract outlining its services
A company providing health care to West Virginia inmates has asked a judge to seal parts of its contract, which outlines the types of care it provides, from the public record. The motion is part of a class-action lawsuit, originally filed in 2018 against former West Virginia jails director Betsy Jividen. It alleged that the […] The post Jails’ medical provider asks to seal contract outlining its services appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Former Maryland governor confirmed by US Senate to lead Social Security
WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration will get a new commissioner after the U.S. Senate voted Monday to confirm former Maryland Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley for the post. The 50-11 vote was bipartisan, though many senators were absent, likely back home during what was originally scheduled to be part of the three-week winter break. Senate […] The post Former Maryland governor confirmed by US Senate to lead Social Security appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states — and could transform US politics
With U.S. democracy plagued by extremism, polarization, and a growing disconnect between voters and lawmakers, a set of reforms that could dramatically upend how Americans vote is gaining momentum at surprising speed in Western states. Ranked choice voting, which asks voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference, has seen its profile steadily expand […] The post How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states — and could transform US politics appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
More states are making it easier for residents to clear or seal their criminal records. The effort has drawn bipartisan support, as lawmakers across the political spectrum say it will help people find jobs and housing, in turn boosting local economies and reducing reliance on social services. “Folks that get out of jail or prison […] The post High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
National delay to new FAFSA form to impact West Virginia students
A significant delay in the rollout of a new college financial aid application, known as the FAFSA, has prompted West Virginia’s higher education leaders to ensure students have enough time to apply for financial aid. High school seniors and college students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for […] The post National delay to new FAFSA form to impact West Virginia students appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Our end game? We want government officials to respond to media requests for comment.
At Gov. Jim Justice’s weekly media briefing Wednesday, West Virginia Watch reporter Caity Coyne questioned what we’ve been told is a policy of the Justice administration about speaking with the media. “I know myself and other members of the media have been told there has been some sort...
Hopes dim even more for immigration agreement in US Senate before holidays
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators late Monday said they are closer to an agreement on changes to immigration policy in order to clear a multi-billion-dollar global security package, but any timing on a deal or details of that framework remained elusive. “While the job is not finished, I’m confident that we’re headed in the right direction,” […] The post Hopes dim even more for immigration agreement in US Senate before holidays appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump borrows from the language of Hitler for anti-immigration speech in New Hampshire
As leaders in Washington negotiate a bipartisan immigration deal, former President Donald Trump used inflammatory language to demonize immigrants during a Saturday campaign speech in New Hampshire that echoed Adolf Hitler. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in next year’s election, said that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.” He […] The post Trump borrows from the language of Hitler for anti-immigration speech in New Hampshire appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Census Bureau’s proposed changes threaten to undercount people with disabilities, advocates say
The Census Bureau has proposed a major change to disability questions on its annual American Community Survey that advocates say will reduce the number of people who are counted as disabled by 40%, including millions of women and girls. The change in available data could affect federal funding allocations and the decisions government agencies make […] The post Census Bureau’s proposed changes threaten to undercount people with disabilities, advocates say appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Researchers look at how to help more community college students gain four-year degrees
WASHINGTON — Community colleges and four-year universities can work together to improve the transfer student experience, a data report from the U.S. Department of Education suggests. The U.S. Department of Education released data about the institutions where transfer students have the highest graduation rates in each state, with New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Maryland and […] The post Researchers look at how to help more community college students gain four-year degrees appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV First Foundation to send formal employment letter to executive director candidate
The board of the West Virginia First Foundation unanimously voted Friday to send a formal employment offer to a candidate for the nonprofit’s executive director position. The executive director of the foundation — which was started earlier this year to distribute an expected $1 billion in opioid settlement funds throughout the state — will serve […] The post WV First Foundation to send formal employment letter to executive director candidate appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Flagship public universities likely to cut more humanities, staff — especially in rural states
First in an occasional series on academic changes in state-funded colleges and universities. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Taya Sullivan, 20, is a freshman at West Virginia University, double majoring in neuroscience and Spanish. She also has a campus job in a linguistics lab, building on her majors and earning money she needs to continue her studies. […] The post Flagship public universities likely to cut more humanities, staff — especially in rural states appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
US Senate postpones winter break as lawmakers try to craft an immigration deal
WASHINGTON — Members of the U.S. House headed home Thursday for a three-week winter break without completing work on several must-pass bills, but senators are now scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Monday as leaders in the upper chamber and the White House look for an agreement on immigration policy. The last-minute scheduling change […] The post US Senate postpones winter break as lawmakers try to craft an immigration deal appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fear and confusion over abortion access persists as SCOTUS takes its first post-Dobbs case
This year will end on a major cliffhanger for abortion access. Last November, anti-abortion activists via a powerful conservative Christian law firm asked a federal court to effectively ban or widely restrict the abortion drug mifepristone. Finally on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take the case, making Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. […] The post Fear and confusion over abortion access persists as SCOTUS takes its first post-Dobbs case appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Shipbuilding, bombers, military pay raise: Congress sends massive defense bill to Biden
WASHINGTON — The massive annual defense policy package cleared Congress ahead of the holiday recess, despite protests about attaching a foreign surveillance extension and criticism that the bill did not block a Pentagon abortion policy. U.S. House lawmakers approved the package on Thursday 310-118, under a suspension of the chamber’s rules, meaning a two-thirds majority […] The post Shipbuilding, bombers, military pay raise: Congress sends massive defense bill to Biden appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Former DHHR attorney backs up claim department ‘intentionally’ deleted emails in foster care suit
Attorneys suing the state over its treatment of foster children have new evidence that they say further shows the state health department purposely deleted emails related to the high-profile case. On Thursday, a former attorney for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said in court filings the department was well aware of […] The post Former DHHR attorney backs up claim department ‘intentionally’ deleted emails in foster care suit appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Spending on health care in US rises to $4.5 trillion in 2022; a return to pre-pandemic growth rates
After skyrocketing in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and then tempering almost as dramatically a year later, health care spending in the U.S rose just over 4% in 2022, hitting $4.5 trillion, the federal government announced Wednesday. The annual growth in the nation’s health care spending appears to be returning to pre-pandemic trends, […] The post Spending on health care in US rises to $4.5 trillion in 2022; a return to pre-pandemic growth rates appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Hope Scholarship expands to accept year-round applications from students
The Hope Scholarship program, the state’s education savings account program, will now accept applications from eligible students year-round, marking an expansion of the program since it launched two years ago. The program is one of the nation’s broadest education saving account programs, giving students roughly $4,400 per student in taxpayer money to use for private […] The post Hope Scholarship expands to accept year-round applications from students appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Black lung benefits should be easier for coal miners to access, lawmakers and advocates say
During a Wednesday call with leaders of the National Black Lung Association and other coal miners’ advocacy organizations, U.S. Sen Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) outlined legislation aimed at helping miners with black lung disease and their families get easier access to benefits. But the group also highlighted an amendment to […] The post Black lung benefits should be easier for coal miners to access, lawmakers and advocates say appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Four electric buses from WV manufacturer on their way to school districts
The first four electric school buses manufactured by GreenPower Motor Company in West Virginia are on their way to school districts in the state. The Type A Nano BEAST — an all-electric, zero-emission 24-seat school bus — will be delivered to schools in Cabell, Kanawha, Clay and Monongalia counties.
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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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