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Unemployment bill becomes law without governor’s signature

A controversial bill affecting West Virginia’s unemployment system is now law after Gov. Jim Justice took no action on it. The governor had until midnight Wednesday to sign or veto dozens of bills. By about 5:30 p.m., the governor’s office sent out a statement saying he had taken ...

Vaccination exemption bill maybe back

Lawmakers who supported a bill with exceptions to West Virginia’s school vaccination policies predict it will be back next year and bigger than ever. “If I have any say in it, absolutely,” said Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson. Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday vetoed a bill ...

Justice vetoes bill granting vaccine exceptions

Gov. Jim Justice vetoed a bill loosening vaccination requirements in some schools, drawing praise from health care organizations. “Since this legislation was passed, I have heard constant, strong opposition to this legislation from our State’s medical community,” Justice wrote in his veto message. “The overwhelming majority that have voiced their opinion believe that this legislation will do irreparable harm by crippling childhood immunity to diseases such as mumps and measles. West Virginia historically has seen very few instances of these diseases, specifically because ...