By Steven Allen Adams, Special to The Journal of Martinsburg CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Drug overdose deaths are decreasing, and work is ongoing to reunite children in the foster care system with their families, but lawmakers and state health officials say more will be done to curb substance abuse and the[Read More…]
Government
West Virginia lawmakers weigh economic development, budget
By Steven Allen Adams, Parkersburg News and Sentinel CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Going into the 2020 legislative session starting next week, members of the West Virginia Legislature and the top official at the Department of Commerce told media Friday that work continues on improving economic development in the state. Members of[Read More…]
W.Va. Commerce Secretary says improving workforce participation rates a priority
By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During his statewide listening tour with West Virginia business leaders last year, Commerce Secretary Ed Gaunch said Friday, two themes were constant: the need for workforce development and for tax reform, particularly aimed at reducing the personal property tax on business equipment, machinery[Read More…]
Editorial: Senator Swope’s measure to remove blight important to West Virginia
From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph: A bill that will be introduced later this month in the West Virginia Legislature seeks to create a statewide program to help pay for the demolition of dilapidated structures across the Mountain State. The legislation, which is being introduced by Sen. Chandler Swope, R-6th District,[Read More…]
Democrat, Republican voter totals nearly even in W.Va.
Overall number of W.Va. voters down By Joselyn King, The Intelligencer of Wheeling WHEELING, W.Va. — Democratic numbers are decreasing while Republican numbers have increased in West Virginia as the 2020 election year begins, although the overall number of registered voters in the state is down. The state has 32,393[Read More…]
W.Va. Senate President Carmichael: Senate won’t discriminate against LGBTQ children
Erin Beck, Register-Herald of Beckley CHARLESTON, W.Va. – While West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, declined last week to support any legislation to prevent landlords and employers from turning away LGBTQ adults, he took a stance on discrimination against LGBTQ children. “We’re going to protect all of our children regardless[Read More…]
Editorial: W.Va. schools should focus on well-rounded education
From The Journal of Martinsburg, W.Va.: Regardless of your political leanings, if you are a reasonably thoughtful, educated person it must be clear to you that many voters are not. They lack understanding of our nation and our world, both now and in the past. It makes no sense at[Read More…]
W.Va. food banks have excess of food, but not a way to get it to rural communities in need
By AMELIA FERRELL KNISELY, HD Media HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The warehouse at Mountaineer Food Bank was stacked high with pallets of food. Chad Morrison, who oversees the organization, described it as an “excess of food” for much of 2019. The overstock was thanks, in part, to a Trump trade program that[Read More…]
Coal, oil and gas industries to closely follow W.Va. legislative session
By Charles Young, The Exponent Telegram CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Representatives of the state’s most economically important industries will be closely following the work of the upcoming session of the West Virginia Legislature. Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, and Charlie Burd, executive director of the West Virginia Independent[Read More…]
Feds OK West Virginia’s use of opioid funding toward other substances
By TAYLOR STUCK The Herald-Dispatch HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — States will soon be able to utilize opioid funding from the federal government to address the resurgence of methamphetamine and cocaine. The 2020 funding bill passed by Congress in December included Republican Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s Combating Meth and Cocaine Act. The[Read More…]