Breaking News

Local Government

Republican candidates for governor face off in debate

DANIELS — Four guys vying to be West Virginia’s next governor fired verbal shots at each other, declared themselves to be the most effective conservative and offered glimpses into policy positions that would affect the lives of state residents. Tuesday the Republican candidates stood at podiums on stage in the ballroom at Glade Springs Resort, one of the properties owned by Gov. Jim Justice, the two-term incumbent that they hope to succeed. The debate, hosted by the Raleigh County Republican Executive Committee, unfolded before a packed crowd that sometimes cheered and ...

Senate health moves bill to prohibit smoking in a vehicle containing kids

MORGANTOWN — Sen. Tom Takubo told his colleagues on the Health Committee on Tuesday that he had nearly thrown in the towel on his perennial bill to prohibit smoking in a vehicle where minors are present. But after receiving urging from a patient and a constituent, he brought it back one ...

A sampling of bills introduced Monday, Feb. 5

MORGANTOWN — Here is a sampling of bills introduced Monday, Feb. 5. Local sponsors and co-sponsors are noted. SB 629, to require a builder to follow the provisions of the State Building code in the construction or renovation of a structure, even if a county or municipality does not ...

$3.2 million granted for water upgrades in Ripley and Mannington

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $3,229,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the City of Ripley and the City of Mannington. The funding will support wastewater treatment plant improvements and water meter upgrades in Jackson and Marion counties. These federal awards are two of the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests Manchin secured on behalf of West Virginia through the Fiscal Year 2023 funding bill. “I’m pleased the EPA is investing more than $3.2 million in upgrading water and wastewater ...

Non-uniformed jail personnel would be up for a raise under House bill

West Virginia’s non-uniformed corrections workers would receive pay raises under a bill advanced by the House Jails and Prisons Committee. As committee discussion noted, uniformed corrections officers received pay raises as an outcome of a special legislative session in August. The bill currently moving would provide pay raises for their non-uniformed colleagues. HB 4734 is also referred to the House Finance Committee, and there has not yet been an assessment of the cost. Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency in August 2022 because of the many vacancies in West ...