By Matt Young, West Virginia Press Association HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization, on Monday, heard presentations on both the scope of the state’s Foster Care Ombudsman, as well as the grievance procedure for inmates housed within the state’s correctional facilities. First to[Read More…]
Government
WV Legislative Interims: How does the state regulate artificial intelligence?
By Autumn Shelton, WV Press Association HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Regulating artificial intelligence (AI) is something that West Virginia’s legislators must begin to consider, at least according to some experts. On Monday, members of the interim Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary heard from three experts on how AI is being[Read More…]
WV Legislative Interims: Fire, EMS discuss suicide prevention, more funding for first responders
First responder suicide rates outnumbering line-of-duty deaths By Matt Young, WV Press Association HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – “I need to drive this home – Suicide rates aren’t just outnumbering line-of-duty deaths – they’re doing so even with suicides being under-reported by as much as 60%.” That’s what Kari Mika-Lude told the[Read More…]
WV Legislative Interims: Broadband access expansion outlined
Focus is to reach those who don’t have broadband, not just improve service to existing customers By Autumn Shelton, WV Press Association HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – State government’s plan to provide every West Virginia household with access to high-speed internet continues to move forward. On Sunday, members of the legislative interim[Read More…]
WV Public Energy Authority still preparing to govern under new law requiring its approval for decommissioning fossil fuel-fired plants
By Mike Tony, HD Media CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the West Virginia Public Energy Authority got an update on work under a new law poised to thrust it into a key role in the possible shutdown of a coal-fired plant slated to shutter soon. But it wasn’t[Read More…]
West Virginia’s ‘Shape Our Future’ tourism education initiative to launch statewide
New hospitality-tourism education program part of WV Tourism’s statewide ‘Tourism Works’ effort By Matt Young, WV Press Association CRAIGSVILLE, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice, along with several state officials, during a Tuesday press conference at the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center (CTC), announced the launch of the “Shape Our[Read More…]
U.S. Senators Capito, Manchin urge negotiations on debt limit
By Charles Boothe, Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Both of the US Senators from West Virginia — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. — are pushing President Joe Biden to come to the negotiating table to iron out a deal on the nation’s debt limit. “We can’t default[Read More…]
DNR won’t go forward with any current RV proposals at Cacapon, seeks input on future plans
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) has said they won’t go forward with any of the three private proposals to add RV camping to Cacapon State Park’s offerings right now. The DNR issued a statement on Friday, April 21 that the agency, which oversees West Virginia State Parks,[Read More…]
WV Legislative Interims: Committee looks at VFD, EMS funding legislation
Plan would cost household less than $20 a year By Matt Young, WV Press Association CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A previously failed plan for volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service providers to receive additional financial support may be getting new life. HB 3153, which died during the most recent Legislative[Read More…]
WV Legislative Interims: Committee on Children and Families hears DHHR and other presentations
By Matt Young, WV Press Association CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Children and Families, on Tuesday, heard testimony from human service professionals, on topics ranging from adult healthcare, to the state’s foster care system. Legislative Healthcare Advisor Jeremiah Samples was first to address the committee, and[Read More…]