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Local Government

State auditor releases legislative agenda

West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey is introducing several bills this legislative session to help improve the lives of West Virginians, make government smaller and save taxpayers money. On his agenda, is a bill that will protect West Virginians and their property from foreign countries of concern. Countries like China and Russia will be banned from participating in tax sales. The bill is part of an effort to continue to improve the tax sale process. SB 552 was a first step last year, which also awarded $10 million to communities across the state to tear down dilapidated ...

Gov. continues to stump for his income tax cut

Gov. Jim Justice, on the road to promote a big personal income tax cut, says the proposal is two-thirds of the way toward passage. One, he supports the tax cut. Two, the House has passed a bill reflecting the cut. And now all eyes are on what the Senate might do. “We’ve still got a third of the way to get there,” Justice said Wednesday during an appearance in Parkersburg. “I’m not here today to beat on the Senate.” Still, the governor made it clear that he’d like senators to come on board, too. Many senators are skeptical that the governor’s plan to cut taxes ...

Mon Commission appoints Mucciola as county’s next prosecuting attorney

MORGANTOWN — Gabrielle Mucciola was a 19-year-old broadcast journalism student in 2008 when she first showed up at the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to work as an administrative assistant. On Wednesday, Mucciola, who goes by Gabe, was appointed by the Monongalia ...

MORGANTOWN — The state Senate unanimously approved two student-related bills on Wednesday and sent them to the House. Senators also adopted a resolution indirectly supporting Ukraine by recognizing a genocide that took place there during the Stalin years. SB 264 would prohibit people who ...

Delegates debate limits of governor’s emergency power

CHARLESTON — Delegates passed a bill meant to place time limits on the governor’s emergency powers, but some lawmakers argued that it doesn’t go far enough. Debate focused not only on the possibility of future responses to emergencies like fires and floods, but also on the governor’s use of the broad powers over more than two years of the COVID pandemic to issue stay-home orders, close businesses and allow them to open again, influence when schools would be closed and enforce face-covering directives. “We’re here to represent our constituents back home. We’re not ...

Justice proposes 20% raise for starting CPS, adult services and youth services workers

Gov. Jim Justice announced a series of steps meant to shore up the performance of the state Department of Health and Human Resources. The highlight is a 20% raise for starting child protective services, adult protective services and youth services workers. Employees previously hired in these categories who fall below the new salary classification will immediately be brought up to the new salary classification, officials said. “We all know that child welfare has been at the forefront of the issues facing DHHR and we have doubled down on our efforts on recruitment and ...