By OWEN WELLS Civitas Media CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice said he has taken the proposed advertising tax off of the table in budget negations. Justice made the announcement at the West Virginia Press Association’s Legislative Breakfast. Justice noted, “One of the things was the sales tax exemption in[Read More…]

By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Standing beside his electronic countdown clock outside the Governor’s Office as it counted down to the midway point of the 60-day regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, Gov. Jim Justice lamented Thursday the lack of legislative counter-proposals on his 2017-18 state[Read More…]

By KEN WARD JR. Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than two-thirds of the chemical storage tanks covered by a safety law passed after the Freedom Industries spill into the Elk River would be exempt from that law, under a bill now moving through the West Virginia House of Delegates.[Read More…]

By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republican senators on Thursday rejected gubernatorial appointments of two women with Democratic ties, a year after the Senate backed off similar plans to block several nominees. Senate Minority Leader Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, tried unsuccessfully on Thursday to put Belinda Biafore, state Democratic Party[Read More…]

By ERIN BECK The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On Thursday, two Democratic members of the West Virginia House of Delegates introduced an amendment to a bill on drug classification that would have rescheduled marijuana as a Schedule IV, instead of a Schedule I, drug. Schedule I drugs, like heroin,[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — A bill introduced Thursday in the House would give the governor the authority to furlough state workers. House Bill 2879 would authorize that when there is a fiscal emergency, the governor could issue an executive order to issue furloughs to state workers[Read More…]

By JANET METZNER The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — A majority of Northern Panhandle lawmakers voting Thursday supported legalizing medical marijuana, but the amendment sponsored by Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, failed by a vote of 64-35.  “I think it’s dead in this session,” Fluharty said after the Thursday vote[Read More…]

By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in the West Virginia House of Delegates hijacked a routine drug bill Thursday, March 9 to force a discussion on the House floor. House Bill 2526 would allow the state pharmacy board to add cannabidiol, a[Read More…]