On this West Virginia Week, we recap a chaotic week at the State Capitol. Republican lawmakers nominated Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, as president of the West Virginia Senate on Sunday.
But in a meeting of the state’s Republican caucus, conflict arose surrounding a newly elected lawmaker, incoming Del. Joseph De Soto of Berkeley County. After De Soto allegedly made death threats against his fellow delegates, the would-be legislator faces felony charges.
Meanwhile, residents of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle have turned to grassroots activism, with aims of blocking or reforming plans for a water bottling plant in Jefferson County. Community members have a litany of environmental and developmental concerns about the project, which was presented to the Jefferson County Planning Commission last month.
Also in this episode, we’ll hear about Appalachian humor in the digital age, a Mountain State culinary crash course and a new addiction recovery project funded by opioid settlement dollars.
Jack Walker 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, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
