This week, too often, people with mental health challenges or substance use disorder wind up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way. Also, changes to the Endangered Species Act could benefit big business. They could also kill animals like the eastern hellbender. And, in troubled times, a West Virginia writer says to find peace in nature.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, the House of Delegates for more than two hours debated a bill that would require public schools to accept religious vaccine exemptions. But Senate Bill 460 was rejected, 56-42. Briana Heaney has the story.
After the defeat of the vaccine bill in the House, News Director Eric Douglas sat down and discussed the results with Dr. Cathy Slemp, former state health officer for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and now co-chair of the West Virginia Hope in Action Alliance, and House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell.
Also, parental rights took center stage on the Senate floor, as lawmakers held a lengthy debate over local control. Chris Schulz has more.
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The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
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Gov. Patrick Morrisey endorsed more than 40 legislative candidates in Tuesday’s primary election after saying he was unsatisfied with mediocrity and didn't want to keep doing things the way they’ve always been done.
Among the tens of thousands of votes cast in more than 1,600 voting precincts manned by 8,000 trained poll workers in all 55 counties across West Virginia this week, there were only a handful of glitches that the Secretary of State says were handled quickly.
The passing of Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., at 100 years of age was announced in a statement released by Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk.