Staff report The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate postponed action Monday on legislation that would bring about forced pooling, which natural gas drillers have been wanting for years. S.B. 576, the Cotenancy Mineral Development Act, was up for a final reading and vote, but it was[Read More…]
Month: March 2017
Student-teacher ratio, home-school bills WV House near passage
By JAKE JARVIS Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia House of Delegates is on the brink of passing House Bill 3088, which would remove the cap on the number of students per teacher in sixth-grade public school classrooms. Delegates also are close to passing House Bill 2589, which would allow[Read More…]
As House debates Hopemont Hospital future, local leaders mull back-up plan
By CYNTHIA McCLOUD The Preston County News & Journal KINGWOOD, W.Va. — As the West Virginia House of Delegates makes its final vote on a bill to sell Hopemont State Hospital in Terra Alta, leaders and residents have some ideas about how to keep the facility in service and keep jobs[Read More…]
Baseball documentary bringing national attention to Bluefield and Princeton
By CHARLES OWENS BLUEFIELD — The cities of Bluefield and Princeton will be getting some national attention Wednesday courtesy of a new documentary airing on the Viceland Network. The documentary, called “Rivals: The Mercer Cup,” will air as part of the “Vice World of Sports” series. A film crew spent several days last summer filming[Read More…]
Around the Rotunda: Legislative, Committee Schedule for Tuesday, March 28
W.Va. Legislative Committee Meeting Schedule – Subject to change Watch WV Legislature Live each day at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/live.cfm SENATE: Tuesday, March 28, 2017 REVIEW BILLS INTRODUCED The Senate will convene at 11 a.m. RESOLUTIONS SR 55: Designating March 28, 2017, as WVU and WVU Extension Service[Read More…]
10 things to know: Tuesday, March 28
Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers. 1. TRUMP TAKES AIM AT CLIMATE CHANGE The U.S. president will sign an executive order that[Read More…]
Innovative ‘pothole terminator’ targets age-old road woes
By JOHN DAHLIA The Preston County News and Journal MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — According to the West Virginia Division of Highways, despite its relatively small size, the Mountain State is home to approximately 36,000 miles of state-maintained highways. Imagine how many millions of potholes exist on those thousands of miles of country[Read More…]
WV House Finance members get first glimpse of $4.27B budget plan
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia House Finance members got a first glimpse Saturday of what may be the House’s 2017-18 budget plan, a plan that contains $4.27 billion of general revenue spending — about $124 million less than Gov. Jim Justice’s budget plan. “It’s a[Read More…]
WVSU official: Cuts to state land-grant funding could cost school $2.9M
By JAKE JARVIS Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia State University could be on the verge of losing millions of federal dollars if state lawmakers cut its land-grant funding even marginally. If the Legislature should cut WVSU’s land-grant funding by just 5 percent, or roughly $77,000, the school stands[Read More…]
‘Broadband access is crucial’: High speed internet bill passes House, makes way to Senate
By CHARLIE BOOTHE Bluefield Daily Telegraph CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Broadband access in West Virginia will get a boost if a bill passed Friday by the House makes its way through the Senate and is signed by Gov. Jim Justice. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 97-2, in the House. Co-sponsored by Del. John[Read More…]