Governor Jim Justice Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

University Board Of Governors Makes Way For Concealed Carry On Campus

Updated: April 16, 9:45 a.m.

West Virginia’s colleges and universities will be required by a new law to allow students to carry concealed deadly weapons on campus starting July 1.

In March, Gov. Jim Justice signed the Campus Self-Defense Act into law. It allows, with some exceptions, anyone with a permit to concealed carry on the campus of any public institution of higher education.

On April 12, WVU’s Board of Governors approved a rule initiated by the law. Handheld guns like revolvers and pistols will be allowed on campus and must be concealed and carried by a person licensed to do so.

Concealed Carry will still not be allowed at many places on campus including most university stadiums or arenas, daycares, some health care facilities, and anywhere on campus where possession of a firearm is prohibited by state law.

For non-employees, handheld firearms will still be banned from dorms but will be allowed in common areas.

The law will take effect on July 1. A webinar is scheduled for Thursday to update students, faculty and staff on the implementation of this rule.

Updated to reflect that it requires a concealed carry permit to carry on campus.

Justice Wages ‘All-Out Assault’ On West Virginia’s Potholes

Gov. Jim Justice announced he would use an upcoming spell of warm weather to tackle an increase in potholes on West Virginia roadways, with the help of a Putnam County asphalt plant.

With clear weather on the horizon, Gov. Jim Justice said that he will launch an “all-out assault” on potholes, with goals to repair the worst on state roadways in the week ahead.

Justice announced the initiative, dubbed “Operation RIP Potholes,” in a Wednesday press briefing, with the AI-generated graphic of a headstone beside him on the livestream. He accredited the move toward road repair to the upcoming clear weather, and the winter storm that exacerbated road damage earlier this month.

Typically, West Virginia asphalt plants close for the winter because it is difficult to fill potholes in freezing conditions.

But Justice said the clear weather presents an opportunity for the state. He partnered with an asphalt plant in Putnam County, which agreed to temporarily reopen for the week or so ahead to repair severe road damages.

Justice has also made arrangements with asphalt plants in Princeton and Morgantown to join the project beginning Feb. 5, according to a Wednesday press release.

The state is currently patching potholes with hot asphalt mix in 10 West Virginia counties — Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne counties, specifically — according to Jake Bumgarner, operations division director for the West Virginia Department of Highways. Bumgarner delivered an update on Justice’s project during the press briefing.

Additionally, Bumgarner said that the state is working to fill potholes with cold mix asphalt in all 55 counties. Cold mix asphalt is a cheaper, less durable material typically used as a short-term pothole fix.

Justice added that this winter he experienced first-hand the dangers posed by potholes.

“Just the other day… as I was coming down the turnpike, there was a series of four or five (potholes) and they were really bad,” Justice said. “It could cause big-time wrecks.”

Potholes can form when freezing road conditions are followed by sudden spells of warmth, like last week’s winter storm.

“That freeze-thaw cycle is heck on our roads,” Bumgarner said.

With climate change raising temperatures statewide, researchers say these conditions are likely to continue in years ahead. For now, Justice said his administration is doing what it can to address potholes on a case-by-case basis.

“I know that they’re tough on your vehicles, and we’re trying,” he said. “We’re absolutely trying, and we’re going to try even harder.”

Governor Issues Outdoor Burning Ban

To reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires due to drought, Gov. Jim Justice has banned all outdoor burning throughout West Virginia, effective Monday, April 17, 2023.

Dry and windy weather conditions expected in the coming days and an increasing potential for forest fires prompted the move. The National Weather Service – Charleston issued a Special Weather Statement for a High Fire Danger Threat.

The ban will be in effect until conditions improve and the governor rescinds the order by further proclamation.

The order makes it unlawful for any person in the state to engage in outdoor burning, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris, or warming.

The following items are excluded from the restrictions:

Fires for the purpose of chemical production, where fire is essential to operation.
Fires for commercial land-clearing, such as mining, highway construction, and development provided that a permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
Training fires conducted under the direct control and supervision of qualified instructors at a training facility operated by a fire department or government entity provided that a permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
Fires for outdoor cooking conducted for fund-raising events and charitable organizations provided that a water source capable of extinguishing the fire is present and a permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to the operation.
Liquid fueled gas grills, lanterns or liquid-fueled gas fire stoves.

Justice has instructed the Division of Forestry to enact a forest fire readiness plan and to enforce the ban on burning as outlined in W.Va. Code §20-1-1, et seq.

“This year, we have experienced a significant period of low humidity and below average rainfall,” Acting West Virginia Division of Forestry Director and State Forester Tony Evans said. “Since Jan. 1, we have experienced 654 different fires in the state, and a current total of 4,121 acres burned. This ban helps ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the public, our forests, and private property from the damage that can occur from a forest fire.”

The order directs the Division of Forestry and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide continuous information to the governor and the public regarding forest conditions.

Additionally, the proclamation orders the Division of Natural Resources, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Police to cooperate in the enforcement of this ban.

View the full proclamation.

Senator Asks Feds For CARES Money Investigation

Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is questioning if Gov. Jim Justice has violated federal law and has requested the federal Office of the Inspector General to investigate.

Updated on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 5:50 p.m.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is questioning if Gov. Jim Justice has violated federal law and has requested the federal Office of the Inspector General to investigate.

At issue is the movement of $28,375,985.43 in CARES Act funding to a special account controlled by the governor’s office for non-COVID-19 related expenses.

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to provide aid to individuals struggling with job loss. The state of West Virginia received $1.25 billion in aid as well, but it came with stipulations on how the state could spend the money as well as time limitations.

In a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 3, during the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, the governor’s chief counsel, Berkeley Bentley, explained that the governor approved the transfer of the money to his discretionary fund.

Testimony indicated the money was to be used for COVID-19-related expenses for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Jeff Sandy, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, testified that prior to this transfer, the department did have COVID-19 expenses, but it had already been reimbursed for that expense. After that transfer, only an additional $280,721 was transferred to the Department of Corrections.

State Auditor J.B. McCuskey testified that the transfer was unusual for its type and amount for this fund. Previously, the largest transfer into the fund was $250,000. One of the most notable uses of the money was $10 million to Marshall University for the baseball stadium.

Tarr sent his letter to the Office of the Inspector General in Washington, D.C. asking for a response regarding concerns about the ethics, legality and risk of any future clawbacks of the money by the federal government.

Letter-from-Senator-Tarr-to-Office-of-Inspector-General-Letter-03-20-23 Download

In an emailed statement from the governor’s office, Press Secretary C.J. Harvey said, “This letter is simply a regurgitation of old news. Unfortunately, Senator Tarr can’t let it go. The Governor’s Office firmly believes that all transactions involving the use of CARES Act funds were legal and appropriate. Decisions on the use of funds were made with the advice of legal counsel and two national CPA firms, including one who completed an independent audit and found no issues.”

Gov. Justice Signs Retirement Bill

State retirees should see a bit more money in their pockets under new legislation signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice Monday.

Senate Bill 237 offers current retirees with at least 20 years of service with the Public Employees and Teachers Retirement System a one-time $1,500 bonus payment if they are 70 or older, as of July 1.

The bill also provides a $1,000 minimum monthly benefit to those same retirees with 25 years of service if they currently receive less than $1,000 per month in benefit money.

While signing the bill into law, Justice recognized the hardship faced by retired state workers.

“The thing that is hard to believe is that we’ve still got a bunch of retirees whose monthly payment is less than $1,000, and making it on less than $1,000 today I don’t know how in the world they do it.”

With the 2023 state legislative session adjourning at midnight Saturday, the governor now has 15 days to act on most bills. He can sign them, veto them or they automatically become law without his signature.

Officials Provide Updates On DHHR Reorganization

Justice signed House Bill 2006 into law Monday splitting the department into three separate bodies. The bill takes effect in May, but the new departments are set to be in place by Jan. 1, 2024.

After the reorganization of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human resources, there will be a Department of Human Services for programs like Child Protective Services, a Department of Health and a Department of Health Facilities for facilities like state run hospitals. Each agency will also have its own secretary to lead the agency.

The DHHR has long been troubled but has come under fire in recent years for staffing shortages and other problems, compromising the care provided to children in the foster care system or those living in state hospitals.

The West Virginia Legislature attempted to split the agency up last year, but that bill was vetoed by Gov. Jim Justice. After a number of interim legislative committee meetings, and the resignation of then-Secretary Bill Crouch in December, the push picked up steam.

Justice signed House Bill 2006 into law Monday splitting the department into three separate bodies. The bill takes effect in May, but the new departments are set to be in place by Jan. 1, 2024.

Dr. Jeff Coben, interim secretary of the DHHR, thanked lawmakers for their work on House Bill 2006 during Justice’s regular briefing Wednesday.

“In my opinion, one of the biggest improvements of this bill, compared with what was passed last year, is that even though the bill takes effect in 90 days, the three new departments will not be formally established until January of 2024, which gives us really the opportunity to make this transition in a very thoughtful manner that doesn’t disrupt any of the services that are being provided by DHHR,” Coben said. “So we will begin the process of reorganization right away, but we’ll also take this opportunity to do it in a way that not only modifies the structure of the department but also really works to optimize the function of the current department as well as the three future departments that will be in place in January 2024.”

Coben added that he believes the new organizational structure is similar to that of surrounding states and one he is confident can be implemented in West Virginia. He also shared updates on initiatives to solve workforce shortages within the agency, reporting the number of applications to become a CPS worker in the state has tripled.

“I strongly believe that this all begins with better addressing the needs of our workforce within DHHR,” Coben said. “Over the last couple of months, we’ve taken several steps to strengthen our CPS workforce. Just yesterday, I was told that we have 24 new CPS hires that are currently in process. So strengthening that workforce is essential, and I think we’re making good improvements there.”

Coben also announced work on a hiring initiative aimed at graduating high school students. The new internship program would bring students to Charleston over the summer to learn about the DHHR and job opportunities available for them after graduation.

“We’ve received over 200 inquiries about this in just the first two days, and we’re very optimistic that this can be a direct pathway to help recruit new future employees to our department, and assist current employees by adding to the workforce,” Coben said. “So I’m actually quite optimistic about the future of the department and I’m looking forward to working with all of our current employees, the state representatives, and those who we serve throughout the state to implement the requirements of the legislation in a way that’s positive and beneficial for all of West Virginia.”