By Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The shadow of a potential $465 million clawback of COVID relief funding from the U.S. Department of Education hung over West Virginia’s 2024 legislative regular session. But Department of Education officials expressed optimism in an interview with the Gazette-Mail on Friday that[Read More…]

By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel As I write this Sunday morning following the end of this year’s 60-day session of the West Virginia Legislature, I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. When one looks back at this particular session, I have no idea what the[Read More…]

By Charles Young, The Exponent Telegram PITTSBURGH, PA — The merger of EQT and Equitrans Midstream Corp. is a welcome development for the oil and gas industry, according to the executive director of GO-WV. On Monday, EQT and Equitrans Midstream, the developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, announced plans[Read More…]

By Toni Milbourne, The Journal CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Criminal complaints were filed and arrest warrants issued through Jefferson County Magistrate Court on March 8 for two county commissioners. The complaints were issued by Cpl. P.B. Butler and Detective R. Kerns, both listed with the West Virginia State Police Martinsburg[Read More…]

By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph PRINCETON, W.Va. — A bill awaiting the signature of Gov. Jim Justice would raise the age when people can buy tobacco products and nicotine products from 18 to 21, thus making West Virginia in line with federal laws. House Bill 5084 is designed “to[Read More…]

West Virginia Press Association Staff Report CHARLESTON, W.Va. – “You’re not voting now – it’s illegal.” That’s what Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, told colleagues in the House Chamber just after midnight Sunday morning, after the clock ran out on a proposed constitutional amendment to permanently ban non United States citizens[Read More…]

West Virginia Press Association Staff Report CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Senate wrapped up the 2024 legislative session on Saturday, with passionate debate over a plan to create exemptions for childhood vaccination requirements.  Introduced by Del. Laura Kimble, R-Harrison, the contentious HB 5105 will allow “private and parochial schools to elect,[Read More…]

The Herald-Dispatch HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — His former coworkers remember Michael “Mickey” Johnson, a former editor of The Herald-Dispatch, as a mentor, a skillful journalist and a friend. Johnson died Thursday night at Cabell Huntington Hospital. A graduate of Huntington East High School and Marshall University, Johnson was co-owner of We[Read More…]

By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail More and more each session, the Republican legislative supermajority operates in an echo chamber where opinions that differ from their own are ignored or dismissed, and where the mainstream media is treated as an annoyance at best, and as an antagonist at worst. As the[Read More…]