House Energy OKs bill to transfer unclaimed oil and gas royalties to fund to cap orphan wells

January 31, 2019

CHARLESTON — In a lightening 10-minute meeting, the House Energy Committee approved a second bill to provide money — potentially millions of dollars — to cap orphan oil and gas wells. HB 2779 provides a means for royalties due to unknown or unlocatable mineral owners to be transferred to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund after seven years. The fund, which has about $400,000 now, is used to cap abandoned and orphan wells. The bill, as amended in committee, addresses two situations. One deals with partition suits, where multiple mineral interests in a single tract are sold ...

House Banking Committee approves medical cannabis banking bill to allow credit unions to bid for services

January 31, 2019

CHARLESTON — A bill to allow money generated by the state’s medical cannabis program to be banked began working its way through the Legislature Thursday morning. The House Banking and Insurance Committee approved HB 2538 — sponsored by committee chair Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, ...

Man charged with stealing generators that powered stop lights on W.Va. 72

January 31, 2019

KINGWOOD — A Rowlesburg man is charged with stealing the generators that powered stop lights on a one-lane section of W.Va. 72. Donald Ray Moats, 39, was in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail Thursday in lieu of $52,500 bond, charged with felony grand larceny and misdemeanor traffic offenses. ...

Big education bill quietly passes committee; goes to full Senate

January 31, 2019

CHARLESTON — The only drama on a committee vote for a big education bill was the silence. Senators acting as a Committee of the Whole passed a broad-ranging education bill Thursday morning, 18-16. Republican senators Kenny Mann and Bill Hamilton voted with the minority. The bill now ...

WVU, FSU remain closed Thursday

January 31, 2019

MORGANTOWN — Due to the continued bitterly cold temperatures, WVU's Morgantown campus will remain closed and classes will be canceled this afternoon and tonight. University officials continue to closely monitor reports from the National Weather Service and will provide updates as ...

A sampling of bills introduced Jan. 30

January 30, 2019

CHARLESTON – Here is a sampling of bills introduced Jan. 28 and 29. The governor’s Just Cut Taxes and Win constitutional amendment resolution and his teacher pay raise bill are among them. Monongalia-Preston-Marion-area lead sponsors and co-sponsors, if any, are noted. SB 468, to eliminate the requirement that schools be closed on election days. Sen. Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, lead sponsor. SB 473, the Taxation With Representation Act, to allow nonresidents of a municipality who work in that municipality and who pay user fees to vote in municipal elections. Sypolt, lead sponsor. ...