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West Virginia Watch
Water company president raises questions about gas company’s responsibility in West Side outage
Addressing lawmakers Monday morning, the head of West Virginia American Water raised questions about Mountaineer Gas’ responsibility in an outage that affected about 1,500 people on Charleston’s West Side for up to two weeks last month. Robert Burton, president of the water company, said there has been “much speculation” about the cause of the outage, […] The post Water company president raises questions about gas company’s responsibility in West Side outage appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Growing threat of political violence looms over 2024, former members of Congress warn
Former members of Congress are deeply concerned about political violence ahead of the 2024 presidential election, former Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama and former Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia said at a Thursday joint appearance sponsored by the liberal Center for American Progress and the nonpartisan McCain Institute. Jones, a moderate Democrat who lost reelection […] The post Growing threat of political violence looms over 2024, former members of Congress warn appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
States strive to get opioid overdose drug to more people
Posing as shoppers, a team of researchers from the University of Mississippi called nearly 600 pharmacies across the state and asked a simple, yes-or-no question: “Do you have naloxone that I can pick up today?” Mississippi enacted a law authorizing pharmacists to sell the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone — often sold under the brand […] The post States strive to get opioid overdose drug to more people appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Despite state law, dozens of public schools haven’t numbered windows to help emergency responders
West Virginia public schools are required to post numbers on the outside walls to help emergency responders swiftly get to students in a crisis, but four years after state lawmakers mandated the safety measure, 90 schools still haven’t posted the signage. “That number should be in single digits or...
Lawmakers’ final 2023 meeting to focus on DHHR, West Side gas outage and more
State lawmakers will gather beginning Sunday in Charleston for this month’s legislative interim meetings, where they’ll focus their attention on the embattled state health department and utility companies involved in a mass Kanawha County gas outage. The meetings will be one of the last times lawmakers will meet before the regular 60-day legislative session kicks […] The post Lawmakers’ final 2023 meeting to focus on DHHR, West Side gas outage and more appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WVU cuts 16 library jobs, bringing job loss to around 300 positions in budget crunch
West Virginia University’s library system will lose 16 employees amid a budget strain, bringing the job cuts this year to around 300 at the state’s largest university. The news, announced by WVU leaders on Friday evening, is the latest employment reduction as leaders look to make up for a $45 million budget shortfall. Hundreds of […] The post WVU cuts 16 library jobs, bringing job loss to around 300 positions in budget crunch appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Checking facts and providing context for Thursday’s Republican gubernatorial debate
On Thursday night, West Virginia voters had the opportunity to hear from a majority of the Republican candidates who are vying to be the state’s next governor. Between Del. Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, business owner Chris Miller and Secretary of State Mac Warner, more agreements surfaced than division during the debate, which was broadcast by West Virginia MetroNews and moderated by TalkLine’s Hoppy Kercheval.
Police officers can help prevent domestic violence killings by asking the right questions
For help, call 800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788 for the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline. Today, Andreae Lloyd’s family will mark the second anniversary of her death. Just after midnight on Dec. 7, 2021, police say, Xavier Johnson, Lloyd’s boyfriend, knocked on the door of the Miami-area group home she managed, where she was working an overnight […] The post Police officers can help prevent domestic violence killings by asking the right questions appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman censured by U.S. House after he pulled fire alarm
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Thursday to censure Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. The House voted 214-191 along party lines on a resolution to censure Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Sept. 30 while the House considered legislation to prevent a government shutdown. Censure amounts […] The post New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman censured by U.S. House after he pulled fire alarm appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic leaders on Wednesday called on Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental child care funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Child […] The post U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Haley draws fire from rivals in GOP presidential debate, as Christie calls Trump ‘unfit’
Half of the four Republican presidential candidates on a debate stage in Alabama on Wednesday night focused their attacks on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s vying for the prized second place in the nominating contest. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy teamed up early in the debate to repeatedly hit […] The post Haley draws fire from rivals in GOP presidential debate, as Christie calls Trump ‘unfit’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Some states’ economies cool even as the nation’s sizzles
A still-roaring national economy grew at an unexpectedly robust 5.2% annual rate in the third quarter of this year, but early indicators show a more mixed picture for many states heading into the holidays. The preliminary unemployment rate rose in 38 states and economic output slowed in 32 states in October, according to a Stateline […] The post Some states’ economies cool even as the nation’s sizzles appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Not if I can help it:’ Counties look at jail bills as opioid settlement funds become available
Millions of dollars will be released to county commissions across the state by the end of this year as part of their share of opioid settlement funds, and now local leaders are grappling with a tough decision: whether or not to use the influx of cash to get ahead on burdensome jail bills.
The oil and gas industry and the orphan well crisis in West Virginia
For too long, corporations have taken from West Virginia’s land, communities and people and left residents holding the bag. Sometimes, it’s a national employer who comes in, undercuts local businesses, then becomes the only grocery store or hardware store in town. Eventually, when their accountants at a faraway headquarters decide the store isn’t worth maintaining […] The post The oil and gas industry and the orphan well crisis in West Virginia appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Divided over immigration, U.S. Senate blocks advancing aid for Ukraine, Israel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to move forward Wednesday with a $111 billion spending package that would have bolstered aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Southern border amid deep disagreement about immigration policy. The 49-51 procedural vote, which needed at least 60 senators to advance the bill toward final passage, represents a significant […] The post Divided over immigration, U.S. Senate blocks advancing aid for Ukraine, Israel appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to exit Congress, along with a flock of other lawmakers
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Wednesday joined the growing list of Congress members heading for the U.S. Capitol exits. McCarthy’s planned departure by year’s end, following the expulsion of disgraced New York Republican Congressman George Santos, will leave the House GOP with a razor-thin majority in 2024. The California Republican’s announcement also […] The post Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to exit Congress, along with a flock of other lawmakers appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools
In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa. But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay....
Florida congressman proposes federal funding to help schools fight book bans
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost unveiled legislation Tuesday to combat a nationwide surge in book bans. Frost, a Florida Democrat, is pushing the —± which he discussed at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol alongside fellow House Democrats and advocacy groups. Frost’s bill would provide funding for school districts so that they can […] The post Florida congressman proposes federal funding to help schools fight book bans appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Mountaineer Gas sues West Virginia American Water over West Side outage
Mountaineer Gas has filed a lawsuit against West Virginia American Water over the water main break last month that officials say caused a gas outage that affected more than 1,100 customers on Charleston’s West Side. In its complaint, the gas company asserts that the water company is responsible for the outage. “We firmly believe the […] The post Mountaineer Gas sues West Virginia American Water over West Side outage appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Side main ‘relatively young,’ had no history of breaks, water company officials say
During a hearing before the state Public Service Commission Tuesday, West Virginia American Water officials testified that the water main that broke on Charleston’s West Side last month, causing a gas outage that affected more than 1,100 residents of Charleston’s West Side, was “relatively young” and had no history of previous breaks. Responding to a […] The post West Side main ‘relatively young,’ had no history of breaks, water company officials say 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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