CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said the state budget that begins July 1 is projected to have a $195 million gap. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin plans to close the gap with targeted reductions and a withdrawal from the state’s Rainy Day Funds, he said.Kiss was one of more[Read More…]
Month: January 2015
Fayette County school closed, students displaced
OAK HILL, W.Va. — Concerned parents, teachers and community members who gathered Monday night in Oak Hill declared Fayette County a “system-wide facility failure” as news spread that the main Collins Middle School structure has closed for safety reasons. School officials said the main structure, which held seventh- and eight-graders,[Read More…]
Bullying report shouldn’t be shelved
An editorial from The Register-Herald BECKLEY, W.Va. — A year-long study of bullying incidents in state schools that was presented Sunday to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education found, not surprisingly in our view, that problems are most prevalent in middle school. According to the report, 47 percent of all[Read More…]
W.Va. governor to target cuts, tap Rainy Day Fund
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s 2016 budget will use targeted cuts and money from West Virginia’s Rainy Day Fund to fill a projected $195 million gap in revenue, a top state finance official said Monday. Cabinet Secretary Bob Kiss of the West Virginia Department of Revenue spoke Monday[Read More…]
Wheeling, Charleston mayors push for local control
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Even as West Virginia’s Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program expands from four cities to 20, Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones want state lawmakers to continue handing more control over to local governments. “Local government is the best government because they’re a part of[Read More…]
Governor’s State of the State speech will set tone
An editorial from The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s State of the State address to the Legislature, coming up this week, may be the most interesting and important of his tenure. Much has changed since the governor delivered the 2014 edition of his annual[Read More…]
Monongalia recycling bins, revenue losses pile up
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monday morning, Jan. 12, came early for the Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority (SWA). “We were out at 5:30 this morning,” said Donnie DeBerry, who coordinates recycling services for the organization. That was so the SWA could tackle those overflowing recycle bins across the city. The recyclables[Read More…]
New House leader concerned about FOIA costs
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Keeping costs of Freedom of Information requests down for the public and the press remains a goal for incoming House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead. Meanwhile, Armstead sounds as if he would back legislation to seal applications for concealed weapon permits from public dissemination, although such a[Read More…]
Legal reform on W.Va. GOP’s legislative agenda
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Incoming West Virginia Senate leaders gave a glimpse into their legislative agenda Monday, saying they plan to push through bills that reform the state’s legal system, but they expect to put off comprehensive tax reform measures until next year. Senate President-to-be Bill Cole, R-Mercer, said lawmakers’ tort[Read More…]
ATV trails agency at standstill, lawmakers told
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Attempting to comply with a legislative audit from November, the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreational Authority now finds itself in limbo, unable to function either as a nonprofit corporation or as a state agency, the authority’s attorney told legislators Monday. “We are dead in the water,” attorney Harry[Read More…]
