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Delegates battle over policy to prevent homeschool transfers in child abuse cases

Delegates debated over an amendment that would have prevented removing students from public schools to home-school environments if there is a pending child abuse or neglect investigation. The amendment also would have applied in cases where the parent or a home-school teacher has been convicted of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect. The main bill was 3408, which made some adjustments to the Hope Scholarship for students leaving the public school system. That bill, in itself, wasn’t controversial and wound up passing unanimously. But the proposed amendment sparked an ...

House Finance advances a $4.6 billion budget

CHARLESTON — The House Finance Committee advanced a $4.6 billion general revenue budget, reflecting the spending bills passed by delegates so far — by no means the final say on state finances. The budget bill reviewed by members of the Finance Committee Wednesday afternoon will be examined by the full House over the next few days. But even then, financial priorities will need to be reconciled with what the Senate wants. Among the big issues still at play are tax cut proposals, pay raises for state employees and changes to the Public Employees Insurance Agency. Gov. Jim ...

Morgantown moving away from ‘worst first’ approach with paving plan

MORGANTOWN — If you think living on the bumpiest, most-treacherous, pothole-ridden city-maintained street in Morgantown means your street has to be at the top of the city’s 2023 paving list, think again. During a report to Morgantown City Council, Staff Engineer Drew Gatlin said there ...

McCuskey announces run for governor

State Auditor J.B. McCuskey announced a run for governor today, promising commitment to open government and joining an increasingly crowded field. “Starting tomorrow, you will see a campaign built on servant leadership that’s dedicated to our people,” McCuskey said before a crowd of supporters at the Quantum Sports Center in Charleston. “We will out work, we will out think, we will out hustle every single one of our opponents, and anybody who’s ever seen me do anything will tell you that that is true. You deserve absolutely nothing less than my greatest ...

Deliberate intent spurs debate about value of human life

Delegates passed a bill to limit financial damages in cases where injured workers can prove deliberate intent by employers who cut corners on safety. House Bill 3270 passed 52-45 with three absences after debate about the value of a life in dangerous workplace situations. “On this, I think I was voted-in not to come up here and put a cap on someone’s life,” said Delegate David Adkins, R-Lincoln. “So that’s what I’ve got to say about the bill.” West Virginia’s workers’ compensation policies were established to cover liability for workplace injuries. But if ...

Delegates pass religious freedom bill

After two hours of debate, West Virginia delegates passed a bill “relating to forbidding government limitations on exercise of religion.” Discussion on the House floor sprawled across how far religious freedom extends and where discrimination begins. House Bill 3042 passed ...