2025 Legislative Session Kicks Off With Early Look At Budget And Vaccines, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we hear from Gov. Patrick Morrisey about his plans for the state. We’ll also have the minority response to his first State of the State address. 

Plus, the debate begins over vaccine exemptions and whether parents should be allowed to decide that their kids can skip a long list of vaccines. We hear about new penalties on a coal company owned by Sen. Jim Justice, and a new program to help childcare businesses in West Virginia get off the ground. 

Also in this episode, a new state position: Director of Addiction Recovery. And, a new way to protest that draws on the past. 

Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.