Leann Ray

WV House focuses on jobs, foster care in first 30 days of session; Dems say immediate relief needed • West Virginia Watch The House of Delegates has made strides to deliver on their promise of focusing on economic development and jobs in West Virginia.

Lawmakers have reached the halfway point of the legislative session, and the House of Delegates has made strides to deliver on their promise of focusing on economic development and jobs in West Virginia, reports Caity Coyne and Amelia Ferrell Knisely.

US senators denounce immigration agents’ use of force in deadly Minneapolis shootings • West Virginia Watch Leaders of a Senate committee grilled the heads of federal immigration agencies about the shooting of Alex Pretti during an oversight hearing.

The top leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee showed a video leading up to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti, as they grilled the heads of two federal immigration agencies about the incident, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Department of Homeland Security shutdown nears, as US Senate remains stuck on funding • West Virginia Watch Lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained at a stalemate Thursday over bans on face masks and other immigration tactics.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained at a stalemate Thursday over bans on face masks and other immigration tactics as a Friday night deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security quickly approaches, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social and Shauneen Miranda.

Members of Congress again challenge Noem policy limiting visits to immigration facilities • West Virginia Watch Members of Congress sought a ruling from a federal judge to block another Homeland Security policy that required a notice for lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities.

Members of Congress on Thursday sought a ruling from a federal judge to block yet another Department of Homeland Security policy that required a notice for lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.

Trump administration completes rollback of Obama-era greenhouse gas regulations • West Virginia Watch Trump finalized a move to undo an EPA regulation that laid the foundation for federal rules governing emissions of the greenhouse gases.

President Donald Trump and his top environmental policy officer finalized a move Thursday to undo an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that laid the foundation for federal rules governing emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, reports @fischler.bsky.social.

WV House passes bill to explicitly outlaw sexual contact with animals for first time in state code • West Virginia Watch The House passed a bill that will make having sexual contact with an animal illegal in West Virginia for the first time if enacted as a law.

Lawmakers in the state House of Delegates passed a bill Thursday that, as amended, will make having sexual contact with an animal explicitly illegal in West Virginia for the first time if enacted as a law, reports @caitycoyne.bsky.social.

Federal judge blocks Pentagon attempt to demote Sen. Mark Kelly over illegal orders video • West Virginia Watch A judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Defense Department from downgrading Sen. Mark Kelly’s rank as a retired Navy captain.

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday, blocking the Department of Defense from downgrading Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s rank as a retired Navy captain, reports @jennifershutt.bsky.social and @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

House Democrat seeks to reform WV homeschool laws to prevent child abuse after Kanawha slavery case • West Virginia Watch A Kanawha County delegate is proposing changes to state homeschool laws in the wake of a historic child abuse case in his county.

A Kanawha County delegate is proposing changes to state homeschool laws in the wake of a historic child abuse case in his county. A couple brought their adopted children to West Virginia and abused them, forced them to do heavy labor, locked them in a shed and more, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

US House in bipartisan vote defies Trump, agrees to end his tariffs on Canada • West Virginia Watch Several House Republicans joined Dems in passing a resolution to terminate the national emergency that triggered tariffs on Canada.

In a notable break from President Trump’s signature trade policy, several House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution to terminate the president’s national emergency at the northern border that triggered tariffs on Canada just over one year ago, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

Democrats defend 'the actual existence of the Department of Education' in forum • West Virginia Watch U.S. House Democrats rebuked ongoing efforts from Trump’s administration to dismantle the Department of Education.

U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday rebuked ongoing efforts from President Donald Trump’s administration to dismantle the Department of Education, including moves to shift some of its core functions to other agencies, reports Shauneen Miranda.

US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections • West Virginia Watch The U.S. House passed legislation that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote.

The U.S. House passed legislation 218-213 Wednesday that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November midterm elections, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

The West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund needs money now • West Virginia Watch Our state Legislature takes up where the Justice administration left off — flood mitigation and remediation.

COMMENTARY: While our neighbors in the coalfields and Wheeling are still grappling with infrastructure damage, lives lost and lack of support — we have an opportunity and responsibility to ensure our state doesn’t face this kind of devastation again, writes Carrie Decker.

Immigrant surge helped boost GOP states' population, and they may gain US House seats as a result • West Virginia Watch The millions of immigrants who have crossed the border with Mexico since 2020 could change the balance of political power in Congress.

The millions of immigrants who have crossed the border with Mexico since 2020 could change the balance of political power in Congress — but in a way likely to boost Republican states that emphasize border security, at the expense of more welcoming Democratic states, writes Tim Henderson.

Health care workers want ICE out of hospitals, and blue states are responding • West Virginia Watch Health care workers say ICE is increasing its presence in health care facilities, deterring people from seeking medical care.

As the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, health care workers say ICE is increasing its presence in health care facilities, deterring people from seeking medical care and creating chaos that jeopardizes the safety of their patients, reports @chatlanis.bsky.social.

Effort to ban lab-grown meat — and maybe crab rangoon — underway in WV House • West Virginia Watch The House is set to consider a measure that would ban the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in West Virginia.

There’s a legislative effort to outlaw lab-grown meat in West Virginia, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

West Virginia House passes bill changing deadline for absentee ballots • West Virginia Watch The House has passed a bill that would require that absentee ballots be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

West Virginia delegates have passed a bill that would require that absentee ballots be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted, reports @lorikerseywv.bsky.social.

Republicans on US House Homeland panel defend immigration tactics at tense hearing • West Virginia Watch The head of ICE declined during a U.S. House hearing Tuesday to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined during a U.S. House hearing Tuesday to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the victims of fatal shootings by immigration officers in Minneapolis last month, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.

WV Senate advances bill to allow 18 to 20 year olds to conceal carry without permit • West Virginia Watch The West Virginia Senate has advanced legislation that would allow people ages 18 to 20 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

The West Virginia Senate has advanced legislation that would allow people ages 18 to 20 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, reports @lorikerseywv.bsky.social.

All Democratic governors bow out of White House dinner after Trump snubs several • West Virginia Watch Democratic governors headed to an annual bipartisan gathering will not participate in a traditional White House black-tie dinner.

Democratic governors headed to an annual bipartisan gathering in the nation’s capital will not participate in a traditional White House black-tie dinner after President Donald Trump disinvited several Democrats from the event, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

$132M in education funding considered by WV Senate committee as schools in financial crisis • West Virginia Watch West Virginia public schools are dealing with financial stress, and lawmakers came into this session hoping to edit the state’s school funding formula.

West Virginia public schools are dealing with financial stress, and lawmakers came into this session hoping to edit the state’s complex school funding formula, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

WV foster teen’s idea for bill regarding notifications of court hearings approved by House • West Virginia Watch Every House member voted yes on a measure that would make sure children in foster care were notified of court hearings involving their cases.

Katana Curry leaned forward in her seat in the gallery of the House of Delegates Tuesday as the voting board lit up. Every House member voted yes on a measure that was her idea: making sure kids in foster care were notified of court hearings involving their cases, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Breast cancer survival rates higher in Medicaid expansion states, study finds • West Virginia Watch Women with breast cancer living in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility were less likely to die from the disease.

Women with breast cancer living in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility were less likely to die from the disease — but not everyone benefited equally, according to a recent study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.

I’ve seen what’s happening with ICE before — in Czechoslovakia when it was under the Soviet Union • West Virginia Watch This is a walk of shame toward authoritarianism. I know that very well. I was born, raised and lived in such a country.

COMMENTARY: This is a walk of shame toward authoritarianism. I know that very well. I was born, raised and lived in such a country. Czechoslovakia was under the Soviet Union’s boot. I saw Soviet soldiers stationed and marching through our streets, writes Mira Hunter.

Morrisey names charter school advocate James Paul to West Virginia school board • West Virginia Watch Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed charter school advocate James Paul as his first pick to the state school board on Wednesday.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed his first pick to the state school board on Wednesday, promising to improve the state’s low education outcomes and oversight over troubled school finances, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Kelly, Slotkin decry 'authoritarian' Trump attempt to indict Dems for illegal orders video • West Virginia Watch Democratic members of Congress said the Trump administration was using the “authoritarian playbook” when it tried to secure a grand jury indictment against them.

Democratic members of Congress said the Trump administration was using the “authoritarian playbook” when it tried to secure a grand jury indictment against them for releasing a video that reminded members of the military they can refuse illegal orders, reports @jennifershutt.bsky.social.

Shutdown looms for FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA with stalemate over Homeland Security funds • West Virginia Watch Leaders from agencies within Homeland Security testified before a U.S. House panel about how a shutdown would affect the programs they oversee.

Leaders from several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security testified before a U.S. House panel Wednesday about how a shutdown would affect the programs they oversee, though Democrats argued the hearing was a “show,” reports @jennifershutt.bsky.social.

‘Way more harm’: House subcommittee votes 7-3 to advance bill banning syringe service programs in WV • West Virginia Watch A bill that would ban all syringe service programs will now be considered by the full House Committee on Health and Human Resources.

A bill that would ban all syringe service programs in the state of West Virginia advanced through a House subcommittee on Wednesday and will now be considered by the full House Committee on Health and Human Resources, reports Caity Coyne.

West Virginia Legislature is ‘crossing the boundaries of the separation clause’ • West Virginia Watch I believe that when that line of separation is erased something sacred has been lost. And restoring it becomes nearly impossible.

COMMENTARY: I believe that when that line of separation is erased something sacred has been lost. And restoring it becomes nearly impossible, writes Kathleen M. Jacobs.

Trump shuts out Democratic governors from traditional White House gatherings • West Virginia Watch President Donald Trump decided to exclude Democratic governors from a traditional annual meeting at the White House.

President Donald Trump decided to exclude Democratic governors from a traditional annual meeting at the White House and to disinvite several others from a black-tie dinner, according to the White House, the governors and the National Governors Association, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

Senate says WV law enforcement must notify ICE if they’ve identified an undocumented immigrant • West Virginia Watch Law enforcement would be required to notify federal immigration officers about any person they’ve identified as an undocumented immigrant.

Law enforcement across West Virginia would be required to notify federal immigration officers about any person they’ve identified as an undocumented immigrant, according to a bill passed Monday in the Senate, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.