By Danyel VanReenen The Journal of Martinsburg CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The debate surrounding PILOT agreements — or Payment in Lieu of Tax agreements — has come to a boiling point in Jefferson County. Some local residents claim they are unconstitutional, while others say they are a business incentive. In[Read More…]
Government
W.Va. legislature again looking at Mountaineer Trail Network mountain biking bill
By David Beard The Dominion Post CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A bill to create a network of mountain bike trails to enhance tourism in north-central West Virginia died on the last day of last year’s legislative session. But local legislators and community leaders hope to see it through this year. To[Read More…]
W.Va. attempts big leap for education reform
By Steven Allen Adams The Parkersburg News & Sentinel CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Senate is taking a huge leap in its comprehensive education reform bill, an effort that has teachers and their unions concerned but has some parents eager for any options that help their children succeed. The 137-page[Read More…]
Editorial: Hatfield-McCoy Trail in W.Va. is not closing
From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph: After a few weeks of uncertainty, we now know that the Hatfield-McCoy Trail in Mercer County will not be closing. The trail will continue to operate as normal. The trail authority has successfully negotiated an agreement with a coal company that will be mining in[Read More…]
Medical marijuana smoldering issue in W.Va
By Joselyn King The Intelligencer of Wheeling WHEELING, W.Va. — Delegate Shawn Fluharty is skeptical medical marijuana will be available to West Virginia residents by the planned July 1 rollout date, and so is the State Office of Medical Cannabis. A smoldering problem is that federally chartered banks in West[Read More…]
The ABCs of the WV education overhaul bill
By Ryan Quinn The Charleston Gazette-Mail West Virginia students, parents and teachers are faced with a single bill moving through the Legislature that would provide a yet-unspecified amount of new public school funding, but also do much more. Among other things, it would weaken longer-serving school workers’ job protections and[Read More…]
West Virginia Democrats introduce marijuana decriminalization bill
By ERIN BECK The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On the House of Delegates floor Thursday morning, Del. Mick Bates, D-Raleigh, announced that he and several other lawmakers had introduced a marijuana decriminalization bill. Bates, who said his position had evolved on the issue, said marijuana decriminalization could help solve West[Read More…]
West Virginia Senate Committee advances bill to make home rule pilot program permanent
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — A bill to make West Virginia’s Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program permanent in the state is on its way to a vote in the state Senate. The Senate Committee on Government Organization approved Senate Bill 4 on Thursday. The[Read More…]
West Virginia Senate takes up bill to cut off legislative pay during budget impasses
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — If future Legislatures get tangled up in monthslong budget impasses, most legislators would get paid only for the first five days, under legislation taken up in the Senate Finance Committee Thursday (Senate Bill 263). “It all stems from the special sessions a[Read More…]
West Virginia Senate unveils education reform package
By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS The Parkersburg News and Sentinel CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republicans in the West Virginia Senate introduced an education package that gives teachers many of the things they’ve been seeking but ties those things to items Republicans and education reform advocates have longed wanted. The Senate Education Committee[Read More…]
