West Virginia’s tax revenue slide is continuing as October’s collections fell about $8 million below estimates.
Deputy revenue secretary Mark Muchow tells media outlets that collections of personal income, consumer sales and business and occupation taxes were all below estimates.
Personal income and consumer sales taxes are the state’s biggest sources of tax revenue.
Natural gas production boosted severance tax collections above estimates. But Muchow says it wasn’t enough to offset the declines.
October’s tax collections totaled about $313.5 million.
Tax collections in September were about $2 million below estimates.
Author: Associated Press
If you’re not wired yet, you may be soon
West Virginia Internet providers say they're working hard to reach the nine percent of people who lack broadband access, but hurdles remain.The internet…
West Virginia Internet providers say they’re working hard to reach the nine percent of people who lack broadband access, but hurdles remain.
The internet providers spoke Monday at the third Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation Broadband Summit in Morgantown.
The Foundation was formed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller who noted when the last broadband summit was held four years ago, less than 72 percent of West Virginians had access to broadband. Today, 91 percent have access.
Frontier’s Kathleen Quinn Abernathy said Connect America Fund grants help extend service to rural areas, and more than 60,000 people will get service soon. She said it will take much longer to reach the remaining 20,000 households.
Suddenlink spokesman Michael Kelemen said it’s hard to reach everyone when coverage maps are incomplete. And he calls 100 percent a “lofty goal” when water and sewer service doesn’t even reach 90 percent of homes.
Mark Reilly of Comcast said tougher regulation won’t help either. He noted telephone service has yet to reach every U.S. resident.
Other speakers at the event included Jessica Rosenworcel, a commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission, and Mohammed Gawdat, a vice president at Google.
Rosenworcel talked about broadband as both a technology and a platform for opportunity, and its importance as essential infrastructure for the 21st century.
Gawdat’s remarks focused on innovative ideas for the future, including Google’s Project Loon, which has experimented with using high-altitude balloons to bring Internet access to remote communities.
Mingo seeks new prosecutor, commissioner
The Mingo County Commission is expected to name a new county prosecutor and county commissioner this week.
Former prosecutor Michael Sparks and former Commissioner David Baisden resigned in October after they were charged in separate cases stemming from a corruption probe.
WSAZ-TV reports that the commission interviewed candidates to replace Sparks and Baisden on Monday. Commissioners plan to name a new prosecutor and magistrate at their meeting on Wednesday.
Sparks is accused in a scheme to protect Sheriff Eugene Crum from revelations he’d bought drugs. Drum died in April in an unrelated shooting.
Baisden pleaded guilty in October to a federal extortion charge.
A Nov. 18 plea hearing is set for Sparks.
Rebuilt bridge's debut draws dignitaries, public
A bridge replacing a 70-year-old span linking Nitro and St. Albans is open for traffic.The old bridge was demolished earlier this year to make way for the…
A bridge replacing a 70-year-old span linking Nitro and St. Albans is open for traffic.
The old bridge was demolished earlier this year to make way for the new Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge. It cost nearly $24 million to construct.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Sen. Joe Manchin were among the dignitaries on hand Friday to mark the opening of the span to traffic. It opened to foot traffic Thursday night.
Instead of a ribbon cutting, a construction worker used a blowtorch to cut through a chain.
Hundreds looked on as the new span made its debut.
A new trophy for the annual football rivalry game between St. Albans and Nitro is made from steel from the old span.
For more information on the reconstruction of the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge, visit the Department of Transportation’s website.
Parts of Monongahela National Forest closed for logging
Hunters and anglers who use the Monongahela National Forest will have to avoid a large area while timber is being harvested. The U.S. Forest Service and…
Hunters and anglers who use the Monongahela National Forest will have to avoid a large area while timber is being harvested.
The U.S. Forest Service and the state Division of Natural Resources say they’ll have to steer clear because of safety concerns while helicopters move logs.
The work was set to begin Friday and could last as long as six weeks, depending on weather.
The Forest Service says the closed area is bounded by state Route 150, the Williams River, Little Laurel Creek, the National Forest boundary north of Edray, and Forest Road 115B.
The Williams River Road will not be closed.
District Ranger Rondi Fischer apologizes for any inconvenience but says safety is more important.
Travelers should also expect delays of up to an hour on state Route 50.
Campaign targets pseudoephedrine regulation in W.Va.
An industry trade group has launched a campaign in West Virginia opposing legislation that would require prescriptions for medications containing pseudoephedrine.
Pseudoephedrine is also used illegally to make methamphetamine.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association began running ads this week on Charleston-area news websites. The group also has set up a website called Stop Meth, Not Meds, a Facebook page and a Twitter account.
Association spokeswoman Elizabeth Funderburke tells the Charleston Gazette that families rely on cold, sinus and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine. She says the association provides a platform for them to voice opposition to prescription legislation.
House Health Committee Chairman Don Perdue and Nicholas County Sen. Greg Tucker have said they plan to introduce prescription-only bills for pseudoephedrine.