By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — The Senate passed a bill that calls for stricter penalties for human trafficking-related offenses occurring in West Virginia and would exempt victims of these offenses from prosecution. All 33 members present voted to pass House Bill 2318, which creates felony offenses and[Read More…]

By JAKE ZUCKERMAN Charleston Gazette-Mail The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill Tuesday to ramp up penalties for those convicted of bringing illicit drugs into the state. Upon full approval, HB 2579, which passed 88-10, would increase the minimum penalty for an offender convicted of bringing a Schedule[Read More…]

By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that would require employees to give written authorization annually to have union dues deducted from their paychecks, if any portion of those dues are used for political activities, passed the Senate Tuesday on a party-line 21-12 vote, over objections from[Read More…]

By LACIE PIERSON The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the third time in a week, the West Virginia House of Delegates approved a measure that increases jail penalties for people convicted of drug-related crimes. House Bill 2579 would increase the recommended jail time for people convicted of bringing controlled substances into[Read More…]

By LIZ McCORMICK The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — Delegates have approved a bill that its sponsors hope will expand access to mental and behavioral health medications. House Bill 2509 allows physicians to prescribe certain controlled substances through telemedicine technologies — like over a video call. Doctors are[Read More…]

By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill Tuesday, March 7 that would make it a crime to shoplift from a store with the intention of reselling the stolen goods. Delegate Rodney Miller, D-Boone, said the bill was[Read More…]

By TAYLOR STUCK The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Health care advocates in West Virginia are urging the state’s congressional delegation to oppose the House GOP’s proposed replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, citing concerns over how the bill will affect West Virginians, especially those who gained health insurance coverage under[Read More…]

By IAN HICKS The Intelligence and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va.  — Among the first orders of business for a new Ohio Valley group that’s formed to oppose President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies was rallying against plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Members of the group[Read More…]

By SARAH PLUMMER The Register-Herald BECKLEY, W.Va. — “We are getting there,” WVU Tech President Carolyn Long told Beckley Rotarians Tuesday. “We are looking forward to being here and being part of the community.” With the move, Long said Tech plans on turning its focus to southern West Virginia and[Read More…]

Campaign highlights the work of small business development centers Release from the West Virginia Small Business Development Center:  CHARLESTON, W.Va. — America’s SBDC is spearheading #SBDCDay, the first national campaign to celebrate the work of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).   West Virginia’s SBDC is joining the effort. #SBDCDay is March 22, the same[Read More…]