Educational Broadcasting Authority Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

WVPB Reporters Recap Bills Passed And Failed This Session

On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia.

In the House Wednesday, several Senate bills on third reading were sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information, and leadership and structural changes to the Educational Broadcasting Authority – which governs West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Randy Yohe has more.

Also, a bill with bipartisan support to criminalize artificial intelligence (AI) child pornography now has an unexpected insert – resurrecting a bill regarding libraries and obscene materials. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate Wednesday, the chamber processed many House bills with zero debate and unanimous or near unanimous votes. It was also Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. Briana Heaney has more.

Finally, the Senate Health Committee met in front of a room full of white coat-wearing physicians to discuss House Bill 5105 – a bill to eliminate vaccine requirements for public virtual schools. The committee approve the bill after amending it to remove religious exemptions for public school students, but not for private and parochial school students. The bill will now be considered by the full Senate.

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Antolini Named WVPB Executive Director

The West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority (EBA) voted unanimously in a special meeting Wednesday to hire Carl “Butch” Antolini as its full-time chief executive officer and executive director.

“The Educational Broadcasting Authority is pleased to appoint Mr. Antolini as the Executive Director of the EBA,” said William File, III, the chairman of the EBA. “He is responsible for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, including public radio and public television. It is a huge responsibility, and we feel he has earned the opportunity to serve as the executive director.”

Antolini has been serving as interim executive director since being appointed in October 2021.

“We have been impressed with his efforts and his passion and vision for West Virginia Public Broadcasting,” File said. “We have a very talented staff, and he has recruited some excellent new members. He has developed a good working relationship with our legislature, the governor’s office and with our supporters throughout the state. We are excited about the future of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and we believe Mr. Antolini has the right skill set and is the right person to move us forward.”

Antolini said he is happy with the decision and looking forward to the future.

“I’m very thankful and excited that the Educational Broadcasting Authority has chosen me to lead West Virginia Public Broadcasting,” Antolini said. “While we still face many challenges, I believe that we are now poised for the future.

“During the last seven months we have filled numerous job vacancies with a multitude of talented professionals from West Virginia, and all across the nation,” Antolini added. “These people have joined our team here at West Virginia Public Broadcasting and I feel like the group we have in place is uniquely qualified to grow and improve our operations as we continue the mission of educating and informing the residents of our great state. Telling West Virginia’s story, that’s what we’re all about and what we will continue to be here at WVPB.”

EBA Names Chuck Roberts Executive Director of WVPB

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Educational Broadcasting Authority has appointed Chuck Roberts executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

EBA Chairman Bill File made the announcement during the authority’s quarterly meeting today. Board members voted unanimously in support of the search committee’s recommendation.

“We had a great pool of candidates, hired an outside firm to work with us during the selection process and formed a search committee to give us its best recommendation,” File said. “We look forward to working with you for a very long period of time.”

Roberts has served as interim director since April when Scott Finn took a job with Vermont Public Radio. Roberts said he’s both honored and pleased to take the position.

“I’m grateful for the faith put in me by the Educational Broadcasting Authority and for the opportunity to lead the dedicated people of West Virginia Public Broadcasting,” Roberts said. “We are in the midst of many critical initiatives right now and the WVPB team is focused on several important community engagement projects. It’s a great time to be here and, again, I’m thankful to continue the great work we’re doing to grow the WVPB brand.”

WVPB has two other boards that support its mission, the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation, Inc., and the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

“Working with the EBA is an honor as is working with the committed members of our supporting foundations. We could not do what we do without their guidance and support,” Roberts said.

Roberts has worked his way up through the ranks of West Virginia Public Broadcasting from his start with the organization in 2000 as a video production associate. He became video production manager in Charleston in 2004 and was named director of video production nine years later. In 2016, Roberts was selected to serve as chief operating officer of the organization.

He earned a B.S. in Mass Communications from West Virginia State University and is currently pursuing an MBA from Marshall University.

The Latest on WVPB in State Budget

Many supporters are asking about state funding for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Here’s an update as of Sunday, April 16.

The House and the Senate have passed a budget that would reduce state funding for West Virginia Public Broadcasting by 22 percent, or $1 million dollars.

That would be a $3.6 million state appropriation in a $9 million total budget. (This reverses the Senate’s original proposal, which zeroed out state funding for WVPB.)

Gov. Jim Justice has requested WVPB be funded at the same level as this year – $4.6 million. Justice’s original budget contained no state funding for WVPB, but he revised that request to full funding in a letter to lawmakers in March.

On April 13, Justice vetoed the budget passed by the Legislature.

If WVPB’s state funding is reduced by $1 million, these are some of our cost-saving options.

Now, all three sides (House, Senate and Governor) will continue negotiations to reach an agreed budget.

What does this means for WVPB? All funding levels are still on the table, and would be decided before and during a special session. That special session is expected sometime before the constitutional deadline of July 1.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting plans to continue its “Back in the Budget” campaign until a budget bill is signed.

Also, you’ll continue to see and hear “Protect WVPB” stories on the radio, TV and social media. Check out our playlist.

An unprecedented number of WVPB supporters have called and emailed lawmakers, according to House Finance Chairman Eric Nelson in a speech to fellow House members.

“I’m not sure if I’ve received more emails and calls than on this one particular line item. Unbelievable,” Nelson said.

Nelson defended WVPB in response to an amendment from Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, that would zero out funding for WVPB.

“They provide a very valuable resource,” Nelson said. “This is where Mountain Stage is, too. You talk about something that is out there promoting the state of West Virginia; this resource right here.

“One thing that is also talked about, they own a bunch of towers to help put signals out. They have other services…

Roll call vote on House Amendment to eliminate state funding for WVPB. It was defeated, 88-10.

“This is a very solid entity. I urge rejection of the gentleman’s amendment, so we can continue this service,” Nelson said.

A total of 88 delegates voted to keep WVPB back in the budget – 10 members voted to eliminate funding.

The House bill that would have eliminated the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts (OSEA) failed to pass the Senate. WVPB is governed by the Educational Broadcasting Authority, which according to state code “is part of the Department of Education and the Arts for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor.”

Finally, Governor Justice has expressed interest in transferring WVPB from a state licensee to one governed by a land-grant university such as WVU. No bill has passed the Legislature to transfer the licenses from the state to WVU or any other entity. The Educational Broadcasting Authority has recommended this issue be studied in depth, with recommendations and options returned to the Legislature, Governor and other interested parties.