Government Story Archives - Page 1178 of 1196 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Police Take Over Former Pill Mill, Recieve Cash Proceeds

The Williamson office building that formerly housed a pain clinic is being given to the West Virginia State Police.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said Monday that the agency also will receive $340,000 in cash proceeds forfeited by one of the operators of Mountain Medical Care Clinic.

The pill mill was shut down in 2010 following a federal investigation that ended with several criminal convictions.

Clinic operator Myra Miller was sentenced in September to six months in federal prison for conspiring to misuse a physician’s U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration number.

Prosecutors say the 50-year-old was involved in a conspiracy to sell narcotic prescriptions to people who didn’t need them.

Sixty-six-year-old Dr. William Ryckman was convicted in 2012 for his role in the conspiracy and sentenced to six months in prison.

Chafin Withdraws Name for Mingo Judge's Seat

A former state Supreme Court candidate has withdrawn from consideration as an appointed circuit judge in Mingo County.

Tish Chafin wrote to the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission on Thursday. Commission member Kent Carper tells The Charleston Gazette that Chafin sought the position out of concern that solid candidates wouldn’t apply.

Six others have applied to fill the remaining term of the circuit court seat formerly held by Michael Thornsbury. He pleaded guilty in October to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned from the bench. He was elected to an eight-year term in 2008.

The commission will recommend up to five names to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who will make the appointment.

The state Supreme Court appointed a Cabell County senior status judge as a temporary replacement for Thornsbury.

W.Va. Ethics Panel Admits Open Meetings Violation

The executive director of the state Ethics Commission admits the panel violated West Virginia's open meetings law. The violations occurred Thursday when…

The executive director of the state Ethics Commission admits the panel violated West Virginia’s open meetings law.

     The violations occurred Thursday when the commission failed to send the required notice of two meetings to the Secretary of State’s Office. One was devoted entirely to open meetings laws.

     According to state code, notice of public meetings must be approved and listed online for five business days to be legal.

     The commission’s executive director, Joan Parker, told the Daily Mail the panel was in error.

     Parker said the commission would take the necessary steps to correct the mistake. The next scheduled ethics commission meeting is in February.

Section of I-77 in Mercer Co. to Close Friday for Emergency Repair

The West Virginia Division of Highways will be closing a section of Interstate 77 in Mercer County to allow for controlled blasting of a slipping hillside.

The I-77 northbound slow lane between mile post 3 and 3.5 has been closed to traffic since December 2, 2013 due to the instability of the hillside. After consulting with a contractor, the WVDOH has decided to address the issue by bringing down the hillside with explosives.

Interstate 77 from mile post 1 to mile post 9 and a section of WV 112 that runs parallel to the interstate will be closed to traffic sometime between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013.

WVDOH crews and the contractor will work to reopen the southbound lanes within 30 minutes of the blast, once debris is removed from the roadway. The northbound lanes will remain closed the remainder of the day to allow for additional work by the contractor and to allow time for debris removal. The northbound fast lane is anticipated to open by dusk. The slow lane will remain closed indefinitely to allow for additional debris removal.

Northbound traffic will be detoured onto US 52 at Exit 1, then onto US 460 East, and back on to I-77 north in Princeton at Exit 9. Flaggers will be placed at strategic intersections along US 460 in Princeton to assist in the movement of traffic. Drivers should anticipate an extra 30 to 45 minutes of travel.

Local traffic is advised to use alternative routes during the closure.

W.Va. Health Coverage Marketplace Enrollment Rises

Enrollment in West Virginia’s health insurance marketplace has jumped by more than 500 percent in the past month.

     Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield says about 1,200 West Virginians have enrolled in plans through the federal exchange as of Monday. That’s up from 198 people on Nov. 13.

     Highmark is the only private insurer participating in West Virginia’s health insurance marketplace.

     Meanwhile, about 75,000 people have enrolled in the state’s expanded Medicaid program, 12,000 more than the state projected.

     State officials, Highmark representatives and other stakeholders discussed the programs Tuesday during a meeting in Charleston.

     Highmark president Fred Earley says enrollment through the federal exchange increased after the government added enhancements to the website. But he says there are still problems.

State DHHR Plans Changes to Address Issues

Changes are in the works at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in response to an audit that found the agency is inefficient.

     DHHR Secretary Karen Bowling plans to break the agency into three divisions covering human services, health services, and insurance and strategic planning. Each division would oversee several bureaus within the agency. Deputy secretaries would be appointed to lead the divisions.

     The Charleston Daily Mail reports that Bowling outlined the plan Monday during a legislative interim committee meeting.

     Bowling told lawmakers that the plan would give bureau heads more time to deal with their offices’ day-to-day workings.

     The audit by consulting firm Public Works found that the DHHR wastes millions of dollars and has a high turnover rate.