By Brandi UnderwoodWest Virginia Press Association BECKLEY, W.Va. — Lawyers from both sides met for a hearing Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Irene Berger regarding the recent challenge of a court-imposed gag order in the case of ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. The gag order, implemented by Berger on Nov. 21, restricts access to court[Read More…]
Month: December 2014
WVU’s Luck accepts executive vice president position with NCAA
By WVU Relations/News MORGANTOWN W.Va. – West Virginia University’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Associate Vice President Oliver Luck has accepted the newly created position of executive vice president of regulatory affairs with the National Collegiate Athletic Association effective Jan. 15, WVU President Gordon Gee and NCAA President Mark Emmert announced Wednesday (Dec. 17). Nearly 1,100 colleges and universities[Read More…]
W.Va. delegates get plum assignments in Congress
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Political payback is a wonderful thing, at times. Two of West Virginia’s newly-elected Congressional members were appointed to their chambers’ Appropriations committees, a much sought after appointment usually reserved for politicians with years of political capital. Congressman-elect Evan Jenkins and Senator-elect Shelley Moore Capito were named to[Read More…]
W.Va. workforce program could learn from others
An editorial from The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — WorkForce West Virginia put its best foot forward for legislators in Charleston this week, telling lawmakers about its programs to help job seekers and employers. WorkForce Deputy Director Valerie Comer said her agency has 26 programs and secured 43,012 job openings with[Read More…]
Parkersburg also approves a 1 percent sales tax
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Parkersburg City Council gave final approval to a 1 percent municipal sales tax Tuesday, but several other motions failed as 4-4 ties, including the selection of a council president and vice president and creation of a land reuse agency. “We now have seen a divide after two[Read More…]
Charles Washington’s home to be open to public
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The city of Charles Town voted this week to finalize a contract with the Friends of Happy Retreat -a move that will eventually give residents and tourists permanent access to the Happy Retreat property. City officials voted on the contract, as well as to transfer funds[Read More…]
Is student data sharing really necessary?
An editorial from The Journal MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — As much as 80 percent of the controversial federal “Common Core” education standards match state guides in effect for years, members of the West Virginia Board of Education were told last week. Much of what is changing with state adoption of Common[Read More…]
Wheeling doubles its sales tax, cuts B&O rates
WHEELING, W.Va. — City Council members believe doubling the sales tax is the final piece of the puzzle to resolving severely underfunded police and fire pension plans, so they put the final piece of that puzzle into place Tuesday by voting unanimously to increase the rate from 0.5 percent to[Read More…]
Judge strikes down Morgantown truck ordinance
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County judge ruled Tuesday, Dec. 16, that a Morgantown ordinance restricting heavy truck traffic is illegal because state code trumps city law regarding state highways. Morgantown unsuccessfully argued that state code allows the city to control traffic on certain types of connecting roads. The judge[Read More…]
State legislators hear Common Core arguments
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During a legislative hearing Tuesday, one state senator said she wants to advance a bill that will place a two-year moratorium on Common Core-aligned assessments and have a committee explore the possibility of completely repealing the controversial standards. Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, one of the most vocal[Read More…]