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West Virginia Watch
Document indicates Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now
A document inadvertently uploaded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s website on Wednesday appears to indicate the court will send a case regarding emergency abortion care in Idaho back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rather than make a decision, according to reporting from Bloomberg Law. Rather than rule on the merits, the unofficial opinion, […] The post Document indicates Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether presidents enjoy total criminal immunity, delaying one of the most consequential legal decisions in U.S. history and likely closing the door on former President Donald Trump facing his federal election interference trial before November. Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee who is entangled […] The post Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Republican Conference will file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice next week as it attempts to gain access to the audio tapes of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. House Speaker Mike Johnson made the announcement Wednesday during a press conference after being asked about Florida […] The post U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Only 37% of WV homeschool families turned in required assessments, state education dept. says
Only about a third of families homeschooling their children in West Virginia turned in the required assessments to show student progress, according to data from the state department of education. “It’s unacceptable, especially when you consider that these are requirements in state code,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt said Wednesday on MetroNews’ “Talkline.” […] The post Only 37% of WV homeschool families turned in required assessments, state education dept. says appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Arts secretary says Babydog is part of WV’s history, should be in taxpayer-funded Capitol murals
How did Babydog, the governor’s popular English bulldog, end up in a taxpayer-funded mural in the West Virginia Capitol? The decision came under the direction of Randall Reid-Smith, secretary for the Department of Arts, Culture and History, who said the dog is a part of state history and belonged on the newly-unveiled murals that also […] The post Arts secretary says Babydog is part of WV’s history, should be in taxpayer-funded Capitol murals appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will pardon U.S. military veterans who were discharged or convicted under military law for consensual same-sex relations, the administration announced Wednesday. The White House could not provide an exact number of veterans who will be pardoned, but the administration estimates thousands were convicted over several decades and may be eligible. […] The post Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get a crucial opportunity to reach undecided voters and set the terms for the 2024 presidential campaign at Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Partisans on either side have already made up their minds about which candidate they’ll support. And with this year’s race serving as a […] The post Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
July hearing set for senator’s challenge of election results
A hearing has been scheduled in the case of a West Virginia senator challenging the results of the primary election, which he lost. Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, filed a challenge to the election results in seven Mingo County precincts after losing the Republican primary to opponent Craig Hart. The hearing will be at 9 a.m. […] The post July hearing set for senator’s challenge of election results appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that four states will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to […] The post Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick
WASHINGTON — Republican members of the U.S. Senate striving for a takeover of their chamber in the November elections have a wish list for what they’d like to see in Donald Trump’s running mate. A “little calmer” than Trump. Confident. Conservative. Military experience. Good relationships with senators. Ready to take over as chief executive if […] The post Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Despite GOP headwinds, citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states
For abortion rights supporters in Florida, it was a tumultuous day of highs and lows. On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court paved the way for the state to ban nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. But it also OK’d a ballot measure that would allow Florida voters to overturn the ban this […] The post Despite GOP headwinds, citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Mon County measles case great example of why vaccinations are so important
Last week, West Virginia Watch’s Lori Kersey reported that the Monongalia County Health Department spent over $15,000 in response to one case of measles. One case. The patient — who had only received one dose of the measles vaccine — potentially exposed approximately 160 people to the measles virus before they started to show symptoms. […] The post Mon County measles case great example of why vaccinations are so important appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November
WASHINGTON — Exactly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the battles rage among both advocates and lawmakers over the future of reproductive rights at the state and federal levels. Anti-abortion groups that have achieved considerable success in deep-red parts of the country are working to sway voters […] The post For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation
In Arizona, the state’s highest court upheld a Civil War-era abortion ban. Florida and South Carolina moved to restrict abortion to six weeks — before many people know they are pregnant. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “children,” temporarily throwing fertility treatments, such as IVF, into uncertainty and igniting a national debate. […] The post The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is […] The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WVU’s extension campuses will lose academic majors due to ‘Academic Transformation’
Five academic majors will be discontinued at West Virginia University’s campuses in Beckley and Keyser as part of the university’s ongoing changes, dubbed the “Academic Transformation.” It’s the latest round of program cuts at WVU as the university has grappled with a budget deficit spurred by declining enrollment, inflation and increasing employee health insurance costs. […] The post WVU’s extension campuses will lose academic majors due to ‘Academic Transformation’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Exclusive: DNC moves ahead on all-virtual roll call for Biden presidential nomination
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee has taken a significant step toward formally designating Joe Biden as the party’s presidential nominee before the Democratic convention in August — a move that’s necessary to place him on the Ohio ballot for November’s election, States Newsroom has been told. DNC members finalized their vote Thursday to move […] The post Exclusive: DNC moves ahead on all-virtual roll call for Biden presidential nomination appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge
WASHINGTON — Though the new version of the form to apply for federal financial student aid has had its fair share of highly publicized hiccups, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal says the department has made a lot of progress in the past couple of months. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — […] The post Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm […] The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Preliminary data shows rate of fatal overdoses may be leveling in WV following 2020 spike
Annual drug overdose deaths in West Virginia appear to be continuing to slow after a 2020 spike, according to preliminary data from the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to the data — which is subject to change as more information is released — at least 1,383 people fatally overdosed in West Virginia […] The post Preliminary data shows rate of fatal overdoses may be leveling in WV following 2020 spike 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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