, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Speaking With House Speaker Hanshaw And Education Priorities

On this episode of The Legislature Today, government reporter Randy Yohe sits down with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay. We get his take on progress and problems in these early legislative general session days.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, government reporter Randy Yohe sits down with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay. We get his take on progress and problems in these early legislative general session days.

We also have a story from education reporter Chris Schulz, who attended Tuesday’s Senate Education Committee meeting and spoke to its chairwoman, Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason. As the legislature settles into the business of lawmaking, committees represent a crucial step in the process. It’s where legislators can study and discuss a bill in depth before returning it to the floor.

Other notable goings-on included West Virginia University men’s basketball coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Huggins being honored by both House and Senate chambers, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union lobbying lawmakers on topics including criminal justice reform and LGBTQ rights, and the Girl Scouts’ Black Diamond Council visiting the Capitol Rotunda.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today – January 17, 2023

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

An Interview With Senate President Blair And An MLK Day Celebration This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, reporter Chris Schulz sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, to talk about his plan for this year’s legislative session. Improvements to the state’s educational system, departmental restructuring and promised tax cuts are on Blair’s agenda this year.

On this West Virginia Morning, reporter Chris Schulz sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, to talk about his plan for this year’s legislative session. Improvements to the state’s educational system, departmental restructuring and promised tax cuts are on Blair’s agenda this year.

We also take a look at the State Capitol’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, courtesy of reporter Randy Yohe. Unity was the theme for the proceedings, and as Yohe shows us, the human rights that Dr. King fought for decades ago, continue to this day.

Both stories come from last Friday’s episode of The Legislature Today. Tune in to West Virginia Public Broadcasting, on TV and radio, every evening at 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, to learn more about what is going on at the legislature.

Elsewhere around the state, the first round of Hope Scholarship money was awarded to families on Friday and the Center for Organ Recovery and Education celebrated a fourth consecutive year of record-breaking donations.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

An Interview With Senate President Blair And Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley. The state Senate wasted no time in getting to work this year, passing 25 bills in the first two days of the legislative session. Republicans hold a supermajority, and despite an early start in the Senate, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Improvements to the state’s educational system, departmental restructuring and promised tax cuts are on Blair’s agenda this year.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley. The state Senate wasted no time in getting to work this year, passing 25 bills in the first two days of the legislative session. Republicans hold a supermajority, and despite an early start in the Senate, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Improvements to the state’s educational system, departmental restructuring and promised tax cuts are on Blair’s agenda this year.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today – January 16, 2023

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Concerns Around Funding For 'Crisis Pregnancy Centers' This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Margaret Pomponio, CEO of reproductive health and rights advocacy group WV FREE, to learn more about HB 2002. If passed, the bill would create the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support program and fund Pregnancy Help Organizations to encourage women to give birth in the case of unplanned pregnancy.The bill comes after the legislature passed a law during last summer’s special session that outlaws abortion with a few exceptions for rape and to preserve the life of the mother.

On this West Virginia Morning, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Margaret Pomponio, CEO of reproductive health and rights advocacy group WV FREE, to learn more about HB 2002. If passed, the bill would create the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support program and fund Pregnancy Help Organizations to encourage women to give birth in the case of unplanned pregnancy.

The bill comes after the legislature passed a law during last summer’s special session that outlaws abortion with a few exceptions for rape and to preserve the life of the mother.

We also take a look at the first week of the legislative session with the season’s first reporter roundtable. Reporters Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz sat down with West Virginia MetroNews’ statewide correspondent Brad McElhinny to discuss what they saw this week and what they expect the major stories will be in the coming weeks.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Pregnancy Center Funding, DHHR Restructuring And The Session’s First Reporter Roundtable

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Margaret Pomponio, CEO of reproductive health and rights advocacy group WV FREE, to learn more about HB 2002, which would create the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support program. We also explore bills in the House and Senate calling for the reorganization of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources and have our first reporter roundtable of the legislative session.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Margaret Pomponio, CEO of reproductive health and rights advocacy group WV FREE, to learn more about HB 2002. If passed, the bill would create the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support program and fund Pregnancy Help Organizations to encourage women to give birth in the case of unplanned pregnancy.

The bill comes after the legislature passed a law during last summer’s special session that outlaws abortion with a few exceptions for rape and to preserve the life of the mother.

We also explore bills in the House and Senate calling for the reorganization of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources into three separate agencies. HB 2247 is currently making rounds in the House of Delegates, while the Senate has already passed SB 126. Both bills would split the DHHR into three entities: the Department of Health, the Department of Health Facilities and the Department of Human Services.

We also have our first reporter roundtable of the legislative session. Reporters Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz sat down with West Virginia MetroNews’ statewide correspondent Brad McElhinny to discuss what they saw this week and what they expect the major stories will be in the coming weeks.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Democrats' Legislative Expectations And Our Song Of The Week This West Virginia Morning

On This West Virginia Morning, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s show The Legislature Today returned to the air last night with a response to the governor’s State of the State Address. Reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel and House Minority Leader Doug Skaff to get their reactions.

On This West Virginia Morning, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s show The Legislature Today returned to the air last night with a response to the governor’s State of the State Address. Reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel and House Minority Leader Doug Skaff to get their reactions.

Also, Gov. Jim Justice’s 50 percent income tax cut proposal comes with a big hedge against recession and some state comparisons touting success. Meanwhile, the state’s NAACP branch and other advocacy groups gathered at the capitol to voice concerns about Gov. Justice’s proposed flat budget Thursday morning.

Our Mountain Stage Song of the Week is from The Steel Wheels. It’s the group’s performance of “Under,” which appeared on their 2019 album,Over The Trees.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Caroline MacGregor, Curtis Tate, Chris Schulz, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe and Shepherd Snyder.

Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.

Teresa Wills and Chuck Anziulewicz are our hosts.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning