By Phil Kabler For the West Virginia Press Association Final hours of the 2017 regular session were marked with drama, including a last-minute blockbuster announcement from Gov. Jim Justice that a deal was near on the budget bill that would avoid major cuts to public education, higher education, and health[Read More…]
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At session’s end, health bills move, Legislature approves a budget plan
By Lexi Browning The West Virginia Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After a full session of passing, amending and debating legislation, the final day of the 83rd regular Legislative session came to a close Saturday with a budget surprise and numerous bills gaining approval in the final hours. See all passed legislation here: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/Bills_all_pass.cfm?year=2017&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill Review the[Read More…]
Live-feed of Gov. Justice visit to Wheeling for Greyhound Industry announcement
WHEELING, W.Va. — Gov.Jim Justice will visit Wheeling on Saturday to deliver a major announcement concerning the Greyhound Industry in West Virginia. He is slated to speak in the third floor courtroom at West Virginia Independence Hall at 11 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. From the Wheeling News-Register:[Read More…]
WV House passes coal industry bill
By Ken Ward The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that consolidates some state coal oversight boards and lessens a water quality restriction for the mining industry was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Delegates on Friday. House members voted 94-6 to pass Senate Bill 687. The legislation now goes[Read More…]
Breeders bill brings Gov. Justice to Wheeling
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer of Wheeling WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice will come to Wheeling Saturday morning to make a major announcement regarding the future of the greyhound breeders industry, according to information provided by Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman. Justice’s words will come just hours[Read More…]
WV budget bill comes down to the wire
By Phil Kabler Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the legislative countdown clock clicking down to its final hours tonight, West Virginia House and Senate leadership was negotiating Friday evening in hopes of coming up with a compromise between the House’s $4.24 billion budget bill and the Senate’s no-tax $4.102 billion[Read More…]
Legislators OK Justice’s road measure
BY DAVID BEARD The Dominion Post CHARLESTON — Legislators had no appetite for most of the new governor’s revenue measures this session, but they did get behind one to build roads. SJR 6, the Roads to Prosperity Amendment, was among the Senate measure the House approved on April 7, the[Read More…]
Senate approves plan to replace 2 hospitals, postpones action on EMTs carrying firearms
By Jim Ross The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Senate advanced two bills Friday that would dispose of two hospitals and replace them with smaller, newer facilities. A bill that would close Jackie Withrow Hospital at Beckley was approved with little comment. But a bill that would close[Read More…]
Editorial: Marijuana bill takes heat from public
From the Herald-Dispatch of Huntington: After the West Virginia legislature this week approved a bill allowing medical marijuana in the state starting in 2019, readers were asked this question related to the legislature’s action: “Do you approve of medical marijuana for West Virginia? If not, what are your concerns?” Here[Read More…]
Speed limit, BOE resolutions OK’d by delegates
By Andrea Lannom Register-Herald of Beckley CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia House adopted a measure that would ask the commissioner of Highways to increase the speed limit on highways in rural areas to 75 miles per hour. House Concurrent Resolution 75 was introduced last month and delegates voted to[Read More…]