Tag: Government

Governor Calls Special Legislative Session Sunday

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

A Look At The Upcoming Gubernatorial Race On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the stage is now set for a two man, two party political race for governor of West Virginia. Randy Yohe gives us an initial look at what we can expect from the Republican and the Democratic nominees.

On this West Virginia Morning, the stage is now set for a two man, two party political race for governor of West Virginia. Randy Yohe gives us an initial look at what we can expect from the Republican and the Democratic nominees.

Also, in this show, African Americans played a pivotal role in the development of Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. In honor of those contributions, the park recently offered special programs dedicated to telling the stories of the enslaved African Americans that helped introduce the largest cave system in the world to visitors.

KPRN’s Alana Watson went on one of those tours and learned more about the park’s history of Black guides — a tour that included a member of a celebrated legacy.

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.

Emily Rice 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

Primary Election Shakes Up State Senate

Eight state senators will not be returning for next year’s legislative session. That makes up nearly 25 percent of the upper chamber.  

Eight state senators will not be returning for next year’s legislative session. That makes up nearly 25 percent of the upper chamber.  

Tuesday’s shake up resulted in four senators losing their primary races: Sens. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, Robert Karnes, R-Randolph, Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, and, most notably, Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley. 

Sens. David Stover, R-Wyoming, Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, Charles Trump, R-Morgan, and Mike Caputo, D-Marion, all decided not to run for a Senate seat this year. Trump is headed to serve on the state’s Supreme Court. 

Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, held onto her Republican nomination, but with a thin two percent margin.

Sen. Mark Hunt, R-Kanawha, won the Republican nomination for state auditor. If he wins in November, he will be the ninth senator to leave the Senate this year.

General Election Campaign Begins For W.Va. Governor

The stage is now set for a two man, two party race for governor of West Virginia.

The stage is now set for a two man, two party race for governor of West Virginia. 

In his acceptance speech, Republican nominee Attorney General Patrick Morrisey told supporters the Republican Party was splintered in the primary, but it will become unified to keep a conservative majority in West Virginia. 

“We’re not done fighting and winning for our conservative values,” Morrisey said. “We’re not done fighting and winning for the right to life, fighting and winning for our God-given Second Amendment rights.”

The Democratic nominee for governor, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, said his campaign began in earnest at 7:31 p.m. primary night. He said his platform will center on creating job opportunities and an environment that encourages investment.

“The way we get there is by making sure that our education system is the strongest in the country,” Williams said. “That we have the best infrastructure in the country and that we have the best health care in the country.”

With a primary campaign based on battling federal overreach and limiting transgender students rights, Morrisey told supporters he expects to have a close consultation after November with former President Donald Trump. 

“We’re gonna have a spirited discussion about how West Virginia will be that shining state in the mountains,” Morrisey said. “To increase our standard of living, to drive educational attainment, stop the drug menace, improve our infrastructure, and our internet speeds and to stop ‘woke’ policies at the state line.”

Williams hopes the campaign advertising battles remain issue-oriented and positive, but said that he’s leaving all options open. 

“Somebody punches me, I’m going to punch back,” Williams said. “One thing that is very clear from what we saw in the primary is that they will say anything, and the truth doesn’t necessarily have to get in the way.”

The 2024 general election is Nov. 5.

Primary Election Recap And A Discussion On Child Nutrition, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the results from Tuesday’s primary election came in mostly as expected. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has covered the intense campaigning leading up to the primary and he joins us live in the studio with results and reactions.

On this West Virginia Morning, the results from Tuesday’s primary election came in mostly as expected. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has covered the intense campaigning leading up to the primary and he joins us live in the studio with results and reactions.

Also, in this show, we have the latest installment of our series “Now What? A Series on Parenting.” Parents are often left with many questions about how to raise a child. Two of the areas that are most concerning and confusing are feeding and nutrition. Government programs can offer many kinds of support, as Chris Schulz learned when he sat down to speak with WIC Outreach Liaison Sarah Moore.

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

Exit mobile version