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West Virginia Watch
Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench. Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight […] The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Kyneddi Miller presser was long on words, short on accountability
The Governor’s Reception Room at the West Virginia Capitol is designed to project a sense of importance. White columns and paneling contrast with herringbone wood floors, lit by large, draped windows, adorned with state and American flags perfectly angled for presentation. The staging of a podium manned by a lawyer in a suit, and the […] The post Kyneddi Miller presser was long on words, short on accountability appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges
President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches. “Never give up on hope,” Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV among 42 states settling with pharmaceutical company over talc powder marketing
West Virginia is one of 42 states that have reached a $700 million settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson over allegations about the company’s marketing of baby powder and body powder products that contained talc, which allegedly causes cancer. West Virginia will get nearly $6 million if a judge approves the proposed agreement. The post WV among 42 states settling with pharmaceutical company over talc powder marketing appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
U.S. Senate Republicans outline their farm bill framework
Republicans on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Tuesday released their framework for a new five-year farm bill that will set the policy and funding levels for key food, agriculture and conservation programs. The top Republican on the committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, laid out GOP priorities with reporters during a Tuesday morning briefing prior to publication of the framework. The post U.S. Senate Republicans outline their farm bill framework appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East
A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the “day after” the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive. The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
DeVaughn, Jones to headline state’s Juneteenth celebration Saturday
Grammy nominated R&B artists Raheem DeVaughn and Glenn Jones will headline West Virginia’s annual Juneteenth celebration this weekend. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) The event – hosted by the state Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs and FestivALL Charleston – is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the State Capitol Complex. It’s free and open to the public. The post DeVaughn, Jones to headline state’s Juneteenth celebration Saturday appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WV ranks near bottom of country for education outcomes as childhood poverty increases, data shows
One quarter of children in West Virginia live in poverty, and new data shows the number has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kids Count Data Book ranked West Virginia 47th out of 50 states for children’s economic well-being. The data, released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, sought to analyze how kids are […] The post WV ranks near bottom of country for education outcomes as childhood poverty increases, data shows appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum
EL PASO, Texas — Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her three-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago. “I want my daughter to have everything that I didn’t have,” Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish. […] The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A new West Virginia law expanded raw milk sales. Finding farm insurance might be a hurdle.
Ripley farmer Michael Overholt grew up on a dairy farm drinking raw milk. Now, as a homesteader with 10 cows, he has provided raw milk to customers through a herd share program since 2018. “The choice for us was a very natural choice,” Overholt said of unpasteurized milk. “A lot of it simply had to […] The post A new West Virginia law expanded raw milk sales. Finding farm insurance might be a hurdle. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Children shouldn’t have to die for West Virginia lawmakers to take action
Last week, Gov. Jim Justice’s administration gave an update on a horrible case out of Boone County where a 14-year-old girl died after several state agencies failed her. Justice said during an earlier press briefing that Child Protective Services had “no idea” about the child, who was found in a skeletal state. Then he walked […] The post Children shouldn’t have to die for West Virginia lawmakers to take action appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts
WASHINGTON — Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trump’s proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November. During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers […] The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work “side by side” with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the “greatest atrocity facing” the United States and should be “eradicated entirely.” During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institute’s inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in […] The post Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’ appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe
Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isn’t doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of […] The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘This is recovery’: At annual softball tournament, coalfields recovery community shares hope
DANVILLE — Last Friday afternoon, the sun was bright at Lick Creek Park as dozens of softball players from four coalfield counties took to the baseball fields to continue a one-of-a-kind annual tradition for the 11th year. Among the players and their supporters were judges, prosecutors, peer recovery coaches, law enforcement officers, clients for recovery […] The post ‘This is recovery’: At annual softball tournament, coalfields recovery community shares hope appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice, lawmakers focus on tightening homeschool reporting laws following Kyneddi Miller’s death
Following the death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller, the governor and state lawmakers are pushing to bolster homeschool requirements in an effort to prevent future child deaths. Kyneddi, who was found in a “skeletal state” in April, was homeschooled beginning in 2021. Her family lived in Boone County. On Friday, Gov. Jim Justice said that he […] The post Justice, lawmakers focus on tightening homeschool reporting laws following Kyneddi Miller’s death appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media
WASHINGTON — Attempts to get kids off of their phones are ramping up in Congress, despite intense lobbying by social media giants and pushback by those worried about violations of First Amendment speech rights. Lawmakers are seeking to set a minimum age to access social media and put more of the onus on social media […] The post Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, speaking from the site of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, said Friday that those who support democracy must remember what World War II soldiers sacrificed and to live up to those ideals. Biden’s remarks came during commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and sought to tie the threats […] The post ‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all
On many days, some small hospitals in rural Mississippi admit just one patient — or none at all. The hospitals are drowning in debt. The small, tight-knit communities they’ve anchored for decades can do little but watch as the hospitals shed services and staff just to stay afloat. The federal government recently offered a lifeline: […] The post For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Justice admin admits missteps, zeros in on beefing up homeschool laws following teen’s death
The governor’s administration admitted on Thursday that it mishandled communication surrounding the high-profile death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller. In response, state agencies vowed to make improvements that could prevent future tragedies. Possible changes include beefing up homeschool laws as the girl was removed from public school prior to her death. Kyneddi’s mother, who is facing […] The post Justice admin admits missteps, zeros in on beefing up homeschool laws following teen’s death 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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