Government Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

First Extraordinary Legislative Session Of 2024 Began Sunday

The West Virginia Legislature met Sunday evening in response to a call from Gov. Jim Justice to address issues with the state budget passed during the regular session, among others.

The House of Delegates met first and completed the first reading of 16 bills. The body then sent three bills to the House Finance Committee for further discussion.

One of those, House Bill 101, if passed, sends more than $9 million to the West Virginia Department of Health and the Department of Human Services.

Bills must be read over three successive days unless a chamber suspends rules and allows it to be read three times on one day.

The Senate did just that with about half of the introduced bills. But first, Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, offered a strike and insert amendment on Senate Bill 1001. His amendment replaced the original bill, changing how some funding is allocated for state hospitals.

The Senate passed eight bills and sent them to the House for consideration and advanced six other bills to second reading, or the amendment stage.

The Senate did not take up the 16th bill introduced in the House regarding having the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) pay for certain weight loss medications. That bill was not on the call from the governor.

The Senate also entered two resolutions to encourage the U.S. Department of Education to expedite processing of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications and extended the governor’s state of emergency regarding student aid.

Putnam County Judge Selected To Fill US Magistrate Vacancy

Joseph Reeder, a circuit court judge from Putnam County, has been selected as the new U.S. magistrate judge for Huntington. Joseph Reeder was first elected to Putnam County’s circuit court bench in 2012, winning reelection in 2016 and 2024.

Joseph Reeder, a judge for West Virginia’s 29th Judicial Circuit Court in Putnam County, has been selected as the new United States magistrate judge for Huntington, West Virginia.

Reeder is originally from Parkersburg and received both his undergraduate and law education at West Virginia University. He practiced law in Kanawha County following law school, and in 2003 relocated to his current city of Hurricane in Putnam County.

In Hurricane, Reeder founded a law firm in 2003, and operated it until he was elected to the circuit court in 2012. He was reelected to the circuit court in 2016 and 2024.

During his time on the circuit court bench, Reeder has largely focused on issues surrounding substance use. He established the Putnam County Adult Drug Court and the Putnam County Family Treatment Court — both of which offer alternatives to incarceration for individuals with substance use disorder who are convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Reeder’s appointment follows the retirement of Judge Cheryl Eifert from the magistrate bench. He is slated to serve an eight-year term in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, pending a federal background check required for the role.

Joseph Reeder was first elected to Putnam County’s circuit court bench in 2012, winning reelection in 2016 and 2024.
*Photo Credit: West Virginia Judiciary*

Funding Emergency Shelters And National Pro Road Championships Comes To Charleston, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s mechanism for funding emergency shelters shifted earlier this year to an application-based system. As Chris Schulz reports, that change has proved a boon for some – and a problem for others.

On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s mechanism for funding emergency shelters shifted earlier this year to an application-based system. As Chris Schulz reports, that change has proved a boon for some – and a problem for others.

Also, in this show, this last week the National Pro Road Championships came to the streets of Charleston. Events included a time trial along the Kanawha River, a one-mile loop through the downtown streets and a longer course through the hills and flats around the city. The event is a qualifier for the Paris Olympics this summer. Some of the winners will go directly there to compete. A cyclist himself, our on-air host Joseph Zecevic has the story.

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 Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

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

The Primary Election, Raw Milk And Child Nutrition, This West Virginia Week

This week, West Virginians went to the polls for primaries to decide some national and local issues. We’ll talk about the results of some of Tuesday’s elections and hear from some voters.

On this West Virginia Week, West Virginians went to the polls for primaries to decide some national and local issues. We’ll talk about the results of some of Tuesday’s elections and hear from some voters.

We’ll dive into the soon-to-be legal raw milk trade. West Virginians will be able to purchase raw milk, as long as it is properly labeled. But that might come with a risk.

We’ll also learn about a demonstration at West Virginia University (WVU) calling for the university to disclose investments in and ultimately divest from Israel over the war in Gaza, as well as child nutrition.

Finally, we hear about Gov. Jim Justice’s call for a much-anticipated special session of the state legislature this coming Sunday.

Chris Schulz 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, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Governor Calls Special Legislative Session Sunday

Gov. Jim Justice has called the West Virginia Legislature into a much-anticipated special session Sunday.

At the end of the regular legislative session in March, the legislature passed what was referred to as a “skinny” budget with cuts to a number of programs. This was done over concerns of a nearly half billion-dollar federal claw back of COVID-19 relief funds that was ultimately averted.

In the call to bring the legislature into session, Justice said, “…restoring budgets for our Departments of Health and Human Services is the most pressing item on the call. We have hundreds of thousands of people in West Virginia who are relying on us right now, including foster kids and those with disabilities.”

The legislature was already set to meet Sunday through Tuesday for interim meetings. There are 15 items on the call. The statement said they are mostly supplemental appropriations, but also a few pieces of legislation.

One item will provide more than $80 million to the state’s colleges and universities in needed funding for students affected by the Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) crisis. In April, the governor declared a State of Emergency to temporarily suspend the requirement for students to complete the FAFSA in order to qualify for the state’s largest financial aid programs.

“This money will be used to backfill the mess created by the federal government,” Justice said. “Hopefully, they fix it soon, but we aren’t going to wait for them and let our colleges fail. Our students and faculty deserve stability and support, and we’re committed to providing it. This funding will ensure our students have peace of mind and our state’s institutions can serve our communities effectively.”

Some of the supplemental appropriations include:

$150 million for highway maintenance and equipment.
$50 million for new State agricultural lab facilities at West Virginia State University.
$10 million for the Posey Perry Emergency Food Bank Fund.
$27.3 million for Hope Scholarship funding.
$2 million to the Department of Veterans Assistance for medical expenses.

Read the full special session call from the governor here.

Copperhead Bites Send Former House Minority Leader To ICU

Doug Skaff, former minority leader for the West Virginia House of Delegates, was bitten by two copperhead snakes Wednesday while taking down campaign materials in Boone County.

Doug Skaff, former minority leader for the West Virginia House of Delegates, was bitten by a pair of copperhead snakes three times Wednesday.

He was later admitted to the intensive care unit of the Charleston Area Medical Center for treatment, and will likely remain in the facility for several days.

Skaff’s injury occurred while he was taking down promotional signs for his secretary of state campaign in the town of Danville, located in Boone County. On Tuesday, Skaff was defeated in the race for the Republican nomination for secretary of state during West Virginia’s primary election.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bites from venomous snakes like copperheads can affect breathing, blood flow and, in severe cases, limb function.

Skaff did not respond to requests for comment on this story, but told MetroNews that he is grateful for the medical care he has received.