By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has asked members of the state Senate to run a bill that would completely overhaul the state’s education system and return more control to local school boards. State Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, and Senate Minority[Read More…]

The Dominion Post Court of Claims renamed CHARLESTON, W.Va  — The House of Delegates split along party lines, after a lengthy debate, to pass a bill renaming the Court of Claims. HB 2447 renames the court as the Claims Commission and retitles the three judges as commissioners. Judiciary chair John[Read More…]

By RYAN QUINN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice wants to eliminate an agency that reviews public schools and public school systems, nix the eight multi-county Regional Education Service Agencies, remove the mandate for schools to have 180 separate “instructional days” and erase the requirement that[Read More…]

By KEN WARD JR. Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The oil and gas industry’s push for legislation overturning a state Supreme Court ruling that protects property owners from unwanted surveys and other activities on their land hit at least a brief snag Thursday, when a House committee delayed action after[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — Senate President Mitch Carmichael said he has no interest in running a bill that would transfer the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine to a not-for-profit entity. Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, was the lead sponsor of SB 184, which was introduced the[Read More…]

By JOCEYLN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — Legislation that replaces the current form of standardized testing in West Virginia with ACT testing passed its first hurdle Thursday in Charleston. Members of the Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 18 by voice vote, sending it next to[Read More…]

By ERIC EYRE Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers want the state to start tracking drug crimes and drug overdoses. The proposed reporting system aims to put the state in a better position to secure grant funding to help curb drug-related offenses and reduce the state’s overdose death[Read More…]

By KAILEE E. GALLAHAN The Exponent Telegram BRIDGEPORT, W.Va.  — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., addressed local, state and national concerns with students at Bridgeport High School on Thursday afternoon. In addition to stressing the importance of education, Manchin discussed the state’s opioid epidemic and employment troubles. “We are last[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — The West Virginia Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would create a crime for distributing sexual images without consent. All 31 present voted for passing Senate Bill 240, which Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, explained came about from students at Bethany College.[Read More…]