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Local Government

SUPCO: Don’t sue the gov. over charter schools

In a question of whether West Virginia’s system for approving charter schools is constitutional, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Gov. Jim Justice isn’t the guy who should be sued. The justices concluded that the West Virginia Public Charter Schools Board, which was established by the legislature as a way of approving and assessing the schools, is the entity with the actual authority. “Upon thorough review, we conclude that Respondents lack standing to seek the preliminary injunction at issue against Governor Justice because (1) he does not have the ability to ...

Lots owned by Justice and his businesses listed as up for auction

Properties owned by Gov. Jim Justice and his family’s network of businesses are listed among lots for sale at county courthouses next week. The properties in Raleigh and Wyoming counties were listed in public notices as available at auction because of delinquent taxes. Property taxes in West Virginia go to support public school districts, local libraries, police, public parks and additional local government services. “Each tract or lot as described below, will be sold to the highest bidder,” stated the notices in each county. The Raleigh County notice includes 11 ...

SP head: Troopers were ‘ambushed’

BY CARRIE HODOUSEK CHARLESTON — State Police Superintendent Col. Jack Chambers confirmed Monday that Sgt. Cory Maynard and other troopers were “ambushed” while responding to a shooting call Friday in Mingo County. “They were ambushed. Sgt. Maynard was hit and wounded. Another trooper that was with him did return fire, but did not hit the suspect,” Chambers said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” Maynard, 37, was taken to Logan Memorial Hospital where he later died from his injuries. Chambers said a shots fired call came in around 2:45 p.m. Friday at a home in ...

Mon Power, Hope Gas seek rate increases from PSC

CHARLESTON — Two West Virginia utilities are asking the state Public Service Commission for a rate increase. Both Hope Gas and Mon Power/Potomac Edison made filings this week with the PSC. Hope Gas, which provides natural gas to approximately 111,000 customers in 35 West Virginia counties, filed a $66.5 million rate case. If approved, the average residential customer’s bill would increase approximately 5.8%, which is $6.45 a month. Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy, have filed for a $207 million increase in the current base rate. Approval would ...

Federal lawsuit filed over unpaid civil penalties by Justice companies

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil filing over unpaid penalties by more than a dozen companies Gov. Jim Justice and his family. The filing does not name Jim Justice, but it does name his son Jay and 13 coal companies under the family’s ownership. Since Jim Justice has been governor, he has said the coal companies are under Jay’s leadership. The federal court filing aims to collect unpaid civil penalties on behalf of the Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, as well as Abandoned Mine Land reclamation fee and audit ...

Regional gov’ts protest utility increases in Fayette, Mercer, Cabell

Local governments are protesting rate increase proposals by two big utilities, Appalachian Power and West Virginia American Water. “With a median household income $8,000 less than the average for our state median household income, Fayette County residents simply cannot absorb any additional financial burden,” Fayette County commissioners wrote in a letter that cited the combined financial effects of both rate increase proposals. The potential rate increases for water and power, which will be considered separately, were announced within days of each other. Customers would ...