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Local Government

Workers could retaliate against attacks without fear of firing

CHARLESTON — Employees who defend themselves from attacks in the workplace could not be fired under a bill advanced Monday by the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 5621 says that 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. “I think this will ...

House Finance advances bill to phase out income tax on Social Security

Gov. Jim Justice’s call to eliminate the personal income tax on Social Security has become a three-year phase-out under a bill advanced Friday by the House Finance Committee. Leaders of the committee said they want to provide a tax break for seniors while also being cautious about the state’s budget. “It has been our custom, as well as our prudence, that we generally phase tax cuts in,” House Finance Chair Vernon Criss, R-Wood, said Friday afternoon in response to a delegate question about the multi-year approach. The estimated financial effect of fully eliminating ...

Public libraries now open to obscene material display charges

CHARLESTON — Delegates passed legislation opening public and school libraries up to felony charges for the display or dissemination of obscene material to minors. Lawmakers debated the matter for about an hour Friday, with Republicans contending the bill would protect minors from exposure to obscene material and Democrats saying the change would expose librarians to the threat of criminal prosecution and result in a chilling effect on books on the shelves. House Bill 4654 passed on an 85-12 vote. It now goes to the state Senate for consideration. Delegate Brandon Steele, ...

Manchin announces he won’t be running as a third-party candidate

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin announced during an appearance in Morgantown Friday that he will not be running for president. “In the long game maybe we can make a third party viable when it has the process and opportunity, but right now it is very, very challenging and I am not going to be a deal-breaker, spoiler, whatever you want to call it. I just don’t think it’s the right time,” Manchin said. Manchin, who previously announced he would not be seeking reelection to the U.S. Senate, has been traveling the country for the last couple of months in search of the middle as part of ...

Commissioner says emergency status for jails staffing could wind down soon

CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s corrections commissioner has expressed optimism about progress in recruiting and retaining personnel. Thursday, a delegate asked when state officials will be confident enough to end a state of emergency with jails staffing that went into place in August 2022. “Do we have any hope of getting the emergency light turned off at the Capitol?” Delegate Mark Zatezalo, R-Hancock, asked during a meeting of the House Jails and Prisons Committee. Corrections Commissioner Billy Marshall agreed that would be symbolically important to demonstrate the ...

Additional tax bills coming for nearly 2,700 parcels in Monongalia County

MORGANTOWN — Due to a “clerical error” in Charleston, additional property tax bills will be issued for nearly 2,700 parcels tied to oil and natural gas production in Monongalia County.  Those bills will total just over $1.2 million.   The Monongalia County Commission on ...