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Local Government

Bill to make employment, training program mandatory for SNAP users

Delegates are advancing legislation to require work training for most recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in West Virginia. House Bill 3484 has a range of exceptions, including for parents caring for small children, but generally it would make the employment and training program mandatory rather than an option for SNAP recipients. Recipients already working or in school would be among the exceptions. The policy would apply to recipients over 17 and under age 60. The House Government Organization Committee advanced the bill Monday afternoon. Kent ...

Deliberate intent bill draws debate

A proposal to limit financial damages in cases where injured workers can prove deliberate intent by employers who cut corners on safety drew emotional testimony during a public hearing Monday, during which about 20 people spoke. “The $250,000 cap, that don’t even cut it,” said Ronnie Williams, a former saw mill employee whose arm was amputated in a belt head. Williams said his projected life span is still more than 30 years. At that, he said, the compensation would amount to a little more than $7,000 a year. “That’s it,” he said. “And I know that don’t cover ...

Hope scholarship students could play on public school teams under bill passed by House

Delegates passed a bill that would allow Hope Scholarship recipients who are educated in non-public settings to participate on public school athletic teams. “All it is doing is allowing kids to play,” said Delegate Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, lead sponsor of the bill. The Hope Scholarship is available to students leaving the public school system or for kindergarten-aged students whose families are opting out of sending them to public schools in the first place. House Bill 2820 would allow scholarship recipients attending private schools, microschools, learning pods or ...

In the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Morgantown Utility Board assures its customers that the water in this area is safe for all uses. The assurance comes after MUB fielded a number of calls from customers concerned with possible water contamination. The concerns arise from news that chemicals spilled in the incident have found their way to the Ohio River. According to MUB Director of Communications Chris Dale, the Ohio River is not in MUB’s watershed. “It’s important to note that the Ohio River is not in our watershed because the ...