An Environmental ‘Nightmare’ in Minden, W.Va.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Energy and Environment Reporter Brittany Patterson joins us again on The Legislature Today to lead a discussion exploring environmental issues in West Virginia. She brings us a special report from Minden, West Virginia, and she chats with a lawmaker in the House of Delegates who’s also an environmental scientist.

An explosive meeting in the House Government Organization Committee led to heated remarks on the House floor. In committee, members discussed an amendment to a bill that would have prevented adding protected classes not currently stipulated in state code when making changes to city regulations and requirements. As Senior Statehouse Reporter Dave Mistich reports, the amendment failed 10-12, but it sparked heated conversation about civil rights for the LGBTQ community.

Hundreds of West Virginians who have served in the military came to the Capitol with specific requests for lawmakers. Reporter Randy Yohe has this report.

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, speaks with Reporter Brittany Patterson, and we hear updates to a decades-old environmental nightmare for the small Fayette County town of Minden.