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1,500 West Virginians lose jobs

CHARLESTON — Over the past couple of weeks, about 1,500 West Virginians have learned they’ll lose their jobs because big companies are shutting down their workplaces. Cleveland-Cliffs announced its tinplate production plant in Weirton will idle in April, resulting in potential job losses for 900 workers. Then, Allegheny Wood Products closed its doors and eliminated about 600 jobs at multiple locations. Despite all those job losses, the Senate Finance Committee on Saturday took up two bills that would significantly restrict unemployment benefits in West Virginia. The bill ...

Bill passes allowing employees to defend themselves without being fired

CHARLESTON — Employees who defend themselves from attacks in the workplace could not be fired under a bill passed Friday by the House of Delegates. House Bill 5621 says anyone who is physically attacked by a workplace intruder and responds with reasonable and proportionate force — including the potential use of deadly force — to defend themselves or others may not be punished or fired for their actions. The bill allows self-defense not just for actually being attacked but also for instances of a reasonable apprehension about being attacked. The bill passed 91-5 and now goes ...

Huntington Bancshares reports 2023 fourth-quarter earnings

Huntington Bancshares Inc. recently reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 of $243 million, or 15 cents per common share, a decrease of $402 million, or 27 cents, from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings per common share were 27 cents, excluding 12 cents per common share of after-tax Notable Items, in the 2023 fourth quarter compared to 43 cents, excluding 1 cent of after-tax Notable Items, in the year-ago quarter. Return on average assets was 0.51%, return on average common equity was 5.2%, and return on average tangible common equity (ROTCE) was 8.4%. “We ...

United Bank experiences increased loan demand

United Bankshares Inc. reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2023 of $79.4 million, or 59 cents per share. Fourth quarter of 2023 results produced annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity of 1.08%, 6.70% and 11.27%, respectively. Earnings for the year of 2023 were $366.3 million, or $2.71 per share, and returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 1.25%, 7.87% and 13.33%, respectively, for the year of 2023. Average net loans increased $313.9 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, from the third quarter of ...

Senate bills treat on trees, carbon, silver and gold

MORGANTOWN – Carbon, trees and gold occupied the attention of Senate committees on Monday. SB 618 would create a state Carbon Exchange Program administered by the Division of Forestry. It would give oversight of the sale and purchase of carbon credits generated by timber harvest ...