Brad McElhinny

League of Women Voters says citizens already rejected legislative authority over education rules - WV MetroNews Three years ago, West Virginians rejected a constitutional amendment that would have given the legislature authority to review and approve the state Board of Education’s rules and policies.

The League of Women Voters West Virginia is siding with the state Board of Education in a lawsuit over who has the final authority over education regulations — saying a new law giving that power to the Legislature defies the will of the voters.

You Must Respect Candy Corn Even in paradise, death lurks.

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Start of Affordable Care Act open enrollment may trigger price alarm for thousands of West Virginians - WV MetroNews West Virginia is expected to be hit hard, possibly seeing some of the largest rate increases in the country.

West Virginians on expanded enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are about to get sticker shock.

Capito has sponsored standalone SNAP benefits bill, but it won't go to a vote as funding deadline hits - WV MetroNews Federal officials announced that benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not be available Nov. 1, affecting 42 million Americans as the shutdown drags on.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito says she has signed on as a sponsor of a standalone bill to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as the federal government shutdown continues.

Governor says first director of new civics and culture center at WVU will fight 'woke ideology' - WV MetroNews Legislation that passed earlier this year created the Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship at West Virginia University.

“Dr. Miller and the Washington Center are going to push back against the woke ideology that’s infected our schools, help return higher education to its true purpose,” Morrisey said.

Governor announces donation drive and matching funds for food banks as SNAP benefits dry up - WV MetroNews The total amount available would be up to $26 million. The total amount necessary to fund SNAP benefits in West Virginia for a month is about $47 million.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a donation drive with matching state funding of up to $13 million to help food banks while federal supplemental food benefits are halted during the ongoing shutdown.

Nicholas magistrate is disciplined for misrepresenting residency as she pursued Kanawha appointment - WV MetroNews A Nicholas County magistrate and longtime Summersville resident has been censured for misrepresenting her residence when she applied to fill an opening in Kanawha County, with Supreme Court justices…

A Nicholas County magistrate and longtime Summersville resident has been censured for falsely claiming residency while applying for an earlier vacancy in Kanawha County, with Supreme Court justices noting her actions eroded public trust.

West Virginia braces for disruption of food assistance benefits - WV MetroNews Federal officials announced within the past few days that benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not be available Nov. 1, affecting 42 million Americans.

Federal officials announced within the past few days that benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not be available Nov. 1, affecting 42 million Americans.

Another case about religious exemptions to vaccines seems headed to Supreme Court - WV MetroNews The legal question that has hit courtrooms around West Virginia is now proceeding on two tracks to the state's highest appeals court.

Another case focused on whether West Virginia’s religious freedoms law applies to mandatory school vaccinations could be headed to the state Supreme Court.

Judge wants to know more about governor's power to deploy Guard to D.C. - WV MetroNews 'The central issue to this court is whether or not the what the governor did is in compliance with West Virginia law,' Judge Richard Lindsay said.

“The central issue to this court is whether or not the what the governor did is in compliance with West Virginia law,” Lindsay said at the conclusion of a hearing today.

Senator Justice says the IRS owes him money, actually, and liens are politically motivated - WV MetroNews Senator Jim Justice, whose finances have been rocked by millions of dollars in recent claims by federal and state tax authorities, says the IRS actually owes him and that the conflicts have been…

Senator Jim Justice, whose finances have been rocked by millions of dollars in recent claims by federal and state tax authorities, says the IRS actually owes him and that the conflicts have been shaped through political motivations.

AG says court should not interfere with deployment of West Virginia National Guard to D.C. - WV MetroNews A lawsuit filed by ACLU-West Virginia seeks to halt the West Virginia National Guard deployment, arguing that the governor's order exceeds his constitutional and statutory authority.

“Plaintiff has failed to establish how it or any of its members were ‘directly injured’ or ‘directly affected’ by the D.C. Mobilization,” wrote lawyers for the state.

Capito and Justice express frustration over continued shutdown, with Justice saying Trump is key - WV MetroNews As a federal shutdown hit Day 23, the U.S. Senate couldn't advance a Republican-backed measure to pay federal employees, military members and contractors who have continued to work.

“I think what will happen is the talks behind closed doors will continue. I really think that ultimately, the leader of the band, President Trump, will surface, and in a really strong way. And then I think we’ll get a resolution of this.”

PEIA proposes premium increases of 3% - a lower bump than recent years - WV MetroNews PEIA will next take out the plan for public review.

PEIA’s financial proposal for next fiscal year includes a 3% aggregate premium increase for both employees and employers and a $200 monthly spousal surcharge increase.

I'll join @radiomonroe.bsky.social at 8:15 a.m. on www.watchdognetwork.com

State tax department files liens of $1.36 million on The Greenbrier hotel and sporting club - WV MetroNews The $1.36 million in financial obligations to the state piled up months ago, but the liens were filed with the Greenbrier County Clerk over the last several weeks.

The West Virginia Tax Division has filed liens amounting to $1.36 million on The Greenbrier Hotel and Greenbrier Sporting Club, both owned by the family of Senator Jim Justice, over sales taxes collected but not remitted.

Supreme Court agrees to halt auction of Justice lots at Glade Springs for further review - WV MetroNews Several hundred lots owned by Justice Holdings had been scheduled for foreclosure sale at 9 a.m. Oct. 29.

The state Supreme Court has agreed to halt activities related to the auction of lots around Glade Springs owned by the family of Senator Jim Justice until the case can be more thoroughly reviewed.

Kennie Bass, member of WV Broadcasters Hall of Fame, dies at age 62 - WV MetroNews Bass, 62, retired earlier this year from WCHS-TV and WVAH-TV in the Kanawha Valley after more than 46 years working in radio and television.

“Kennie Bass was one of the most relentless journalists I’ve ever known,."

Governor Morrisey receives names of four finalists for state Supreme Court vacancy - WV MetroNews The finalists from the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission include Eric Hudnall, Steven Redding, Robert E. Ryan and Gerald Titus.

The finalists from the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission include Eric Hudnall, Steven Redding, Robert E. Ryan and Gerald Titus.

Ongoing shutdown casts doubt on federal food assistance program - WV MetroNews The West Virginia Department of Human Services posted on social media this week that delays in issuing SNAP benefits for October should be expected, based on federal guidance.

As funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dry up under the ongoing federal shutdown, West Virginia’s largest food bank is bracing for a big challenge.

Hospital association chief warns that big fee proposal for global talent could worsen shortage - WV MetroNews President Trump signed a proclamation late last month calling for a $100,000 annual fee on organizations for each individual working under an H-1B visa. The current fee is $215.

The chief of the West Virginia Hospital Association expressed concern over potential Trump administration changes to temporary, non-immigrant visas intended to let U.S. employers hire foreign workers with specialty skills.

IRS claims Senator Justice owes $8 million in back taxes - WV MetroNews The liens were filed by the IRS Oct. 2 with the Greenbrier County Clerk.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has filed two liens on claims of unpaid taxes by Senator Jim Justice and his wife Cathy, adding up to more than $8 million.

At 'No Kings' rallies, West Virginians say they are not antifa militants, Hamas, haters or paid protesters - WV MetroNews Participants said they were motivated by what they see as overreach by the Trump administration.

In West Virginia, rallies took place in communities all across the state on Saturday, including the state capital in Charleston, university cities Morgantown and Huntington and smaller places like Keyser, Fayetteville, Romney and Wardensville.

Former Delegate Don Perdue, chairman of House Health, dies at age 75 - WV MetroNews Perdue, a Democrat from Wayne County, served in the House from 1999 to 2016.

Former state Delegate Don Perdue has died at age 75, the state Democratic Party announced.

Another claim of religious exemptions to school vaccinations is denied, this time in Kanawha - WV MetroNews The question before courts around the state is whether West Virginia's religious protections law passed in 2023 affects the compulsory school vaccination law.

Kanawha Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay denied a family’s religious exemptions claim to school vaccination requirements, with the judge concluding that the state has a compelling health interest in suppressing the spread of disease.

Raleigh County judge orders class action of current and future religious challenges to vaccine law - WV MetroNews Judge Michael Froble's order says joining together the cases of all the people under similar situations is reasonable given the number of affected people and their statewide geographic distribution.

The circuit judge overseeing a case in Raleigh County about religious exemptions to mandatory school vaccinations has filed a written order to certify a class action that would affect similar cases in other counties.

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any updates?

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Capito wants bill to open government and then negotiations on ACA subsidies - WV MetroNews The U.S. Senate failed to advance a bill to extend government funding and end the shutdown for a 10th time.

“Open the government, and we’ll begin to negotiate," Capito said. "That’s the message.”

Hundreds of 'orphaned' oil and gas wells to be capped under state, Diversified Energy partnership - WV MetroNews West Virginia has more than 6,500 documented orphaned wells, with thousands more undocumented.

Officials announced the Mountain State Plugging Fund, a public-private collaboration between the State of West Virginia and Diversified Energy to work toward the retirement of oil and gas wells.

Vaccine hearing is delayed, and judge starts thinking about how class action affects cases - WV MetroNews The case in Kanawha County was filed on behalf of the family of an elementary school student, asking for a temporary injunction to allow the student to attend public school.

A family asserting deeply held beliefs to decline school vaccination requirements did not appear for a scheduled hearing in Kanawha Circuit Court today, leaving the judge who was already in a confusing situation in even more of an awkward spot.