West Virginia gov signs budget, raises, insurance changes
March 17, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a $4.87 billion budget Friday for the next fiscal year along with bills giving pay raises to public employees and making changes to their insurance program.
In rift with Biden, Manchin vows to block oil, gas nominee
March 10, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In a sign of a deepening rift among Democrats on energy issues, conservative Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he will not move forward on President Joe Biden’s nominee to oversee oil and gas leasing at the Interior Department.
Anxiety, fear fill West Virginia transgender-health clinic
March 9, 2023 GMTMORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The tiny clinic where physicians prescribe hormones and other medications to transgender teenagers shares the same campus where West Virginia kids travel to receive treatments for rare cancer, heart surgery and other health care difficult to get anywhere else.
3 injured in fiery train derailment caused by rockslide
March 8, 2023 GMTSANDSTONE, W.Va. (AP) — An empty coal train hit a rockslide along tracks in West Virginia on Wednesday morning, causing a fiery derailment that injured three crewmembers, CSX Transportation said in a statement.
West Virginia governor signs campus carry gun bill
March 1, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's governor signed a bill Wednesday allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses.
Anti-abortion allies change tactics after post-Roe defeats
March 1, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans and their anti-abortion allies, who suffered a series of defeats in ballot questions in states across the political spectrum last year, are changing tactics as new legislative sessions and the new election season start.
Bill to dissolve WV’s ailing DHHR headed to the governor
February 22, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would dissolve West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources and separate it into three new departments is heading to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, just under a year after he vetoed a different proposal to split up the ailing agency.
West Virginia advances voting precinct consolidation bill
February 17, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — County clerks and commissions in West Virginia would be given greater discretion to consolidate voting precincts under a bill proposed by the state Secretary of State’s office advancing in the state Legislature.
West Virginia House OKs $105M for battery plant after debate
February 10, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Lawmakers in West Virginia's House of Delegates on Friday greenlit an investment of $105 million in taxpayer dollars to support a Bill Gates-backed company that is building a renewable energy battery plant in the state's Northern Panhandle.
West Virginia House OKs bill to fund anti-abortion centers
February 9, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The GOP-dominated West Virginia House overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday that would allow for taxpayer money to be funneled into anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, months after lawmakers passed a near-total ban on the procedure in one of the nation's poorest states.
West Virginia’s $1 billion surplus sparks pitched tax battle
February 8, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's Republican Senate leaders have answered the call to dramatically slash the state personal income tax by voting to shave 15% off the rate, returning about $600 million to residents.
Sorry, not sorry: Some 1/6 rioters change tune after apology
February 3, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Appearing before a federal judge after pleading guilty to a felony charge in the deadly Capitol riot, former West Virginia lawmaker Derrick Evans expressed remorse for letting down his family and his community, saying he made a “crucial mistake."
West Virginia House passes gender-affirming treatment ban
February 3, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's Republican supermajority House of Delegates passed a bill Friday banning gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy for minors, a day after crowds descended on the state Capitol to decry the proposal.
Crowds decry gender-affirming treatment ban in West Virginia
February 2, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Crowds at the West Virginia state Capitol pleaded with lawmakers Thursday to show as much compassion for saving the lives of transgender children as they showed for unborn fetuses when they voted to ban abortion just months ago.
Lawsuit: WVa abortion ban irrational, unconstitutional
February 2, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An abortion provider filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to overturn West Virginia's near-total ban, saying it is unconstitutional, irrational and causes irreparable harm to the state's only abortion clinic and its patients.
20 attorneys general warn Walgreens, CVS over abortion pills
February 1, 2023 GMTST. LOUIS (AP) — Attorneys general in 20 conservative-led states warned CVS and Walgreens on Wednesday that they could face legal consequences if they sell abortion pills by mail in those states.
A letter from Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to the nation's largest pharmacy-dispensing companies was co-signed by 19 other attorneys general, warning that sale of abortion pills would violate federal law and abortion laws in many states.
West Virginia House passes bill on public school discipline
January 31, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — State lawmakers in the West Virginia House passed a bill Tuesday that would provide a framework to public school teachers on how to discipline students who are being disruptive in the classroom.
New lawsuits target state restrictions on abortion pills
January 25, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of abortion rights filed separate lawsuits Wednesday challenging two states' abortion pill restrictions, the opening salvo in what’s expected to be a protracted legal battle over access to the medications.
WVa Senate passes bill tightening unemployment benefit rules
January 23, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — People in West Virginia would be permitted to collect unemployment benefits for fewer weeks and be required do more to prove they are searching for work to remain benefit-eligible under a bill passed Monday by the state Senate.
West Virginia university leaders decry concealed carry bill
January 20, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia university leaders urged lawmakers in a letter sent Friday to reconsider a bill advancing in the state legislature that would allow for the concealed carry of firearms on college campuses.
W.Va. bills pass on carbon sequestration, hydrogen hubs
January 20, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two bills designed make it easier for West Virginia to attract hydrogen hubs and carbon sequestration projects to the historically coal-dependent state are headed to the desk of Republican Gov.
West Virginia ban on minors’ gender-affirming care advances
January 20, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would ban physicians from providing gender-affirming surgery to minors is advancing in West Virginia.
West Virginia lawmakers in the House Health and Human Resources Committee greenlit the legislation after little discussion Thursday, sending it to the House Judiciary Committee.
State laws vary widely on whether felons can run for office
January 19, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The case of a defeated New Mexico candidate arrested in a politically motivated shooting spree has turned a spotlight on an issue that has been evolving in the states: whether people with criminal convictions are eligible to run for public office.
W.Va. House passes bill to cut personal income tax by half
January 19, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's Republican-dominated House passed a proposal to reduce the state's personal income tax by 50 percent Wednesday, rejecting a call by Democrats to drop the tax entirely for the lowest earners in one of the poorest U.S.
Lawmaker proposes fiddle as West Virginia state instrument
January 19, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A state lawmaker wants to see the fiddle named the official instrument of West Virginia.
A resolution by Republican Del.
West Virginia governor tests positive 2nd time for COVID-19
January 18, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, hours after he met with West Virginia University Athletic Director Wren Baker and Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Huggins, the governor's office said.
Advocates: Proposed budget for W.Va. doesn’t go far enough
January 12, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's budget proposal doesn't go far enough to support the most vulnerable and marginalized residents in one of the nation's poorest states, advocates said Thursday.
Gov. Justice pitches 50 percent income tax cut over 3 years
January 12, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice unveiled his most ambitious personal income tax proposal yet Wednesday: a 50 percent reduction over the next three years.
The Republican governor called the plan a “West Virginia tsunami" during his State of the State address, after lawmakers convened at the Capitol for the start of the legislative session.
WVa education board lifts emergency for county system
January 11, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Board of Education on Wednesday lifted an emergency declaration for Lincoln County's school system that was implemented two years ago amid a review of problems in finance and transportation.
W.Va. journalist let go after reporting on abuse allegations
January 7, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia journalist lost her job last month after she reported about alleged abuse of people with disabilities within the state agency that runs West Virginia's foster care and psychiatric facilities.
Ex-lawmaker who served time for Jan. 6 riot seeks House seat
January 6, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two years to the day after storming the U.S. Capitol, a former West Virginia state lawmaker who served prison time for his role in the riot said Friday that he hopes to return to the scene of his crime as an elected official.
W.Va. Supreme Court announces chief justices for 2023, 2024
December 30, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has announced the justices who will lead the court in 2023 and 2024.
Justice Beth Walker will take over as chief justice of the Supreme Court beginning in the new year.
EXPLAINER: What happens if COVID asylum restrictions end?
December 28, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Since the pandemic began, the United States has been using a public health rule designed to limit the spread of disease to expel asylum-seekers on the southern border.
Title 42, as it’s called, has been used more than 2.5 million times to expel migrants since March 2020, although that number includes people who repeatedly attempted to cross the border.
West Virginia health secretary Crouch to retire in December
December 12, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch is retiring at the end of the year, Gov. Jim Justice said Monday.
Dr. Jeffrey Coben will step in as interim secretary, the Republican governor announced.
W.Va. looks to expand dilapidated buildings program
December 12, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The state of West Virginia has issued a survey asking county and municipal leaders about their plans and goals for dealing with dilapidated buildings.
Steel company opening $450M ‘micro mill’ in W.Va. in 2025
December 8, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A company that recycles scrap metal and turns it into sustainable steel plans to open a $450 million “micro mill” in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday.
Nuckles named WVa Equal Employment Opportunity Office chief
August 19, 2021 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Kim Nuckles has been appointed director of West Virginia's Equal Employment Opportunity Office.
Gov. Jim Justice announced Nuckles' appointment Wednesday.
Nuckles will remain state coordinator of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a role she has served since 2012, the governor's office said in a news release.