While the Trump administration’s plans to repeal greenhouse gas emissions limits for power plants will get a mostly warm welcome this week in Charleston, experts say the move by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remains unlikely to fuel a major resurgence in West Virginia’s troubled coal industry.
The first day was jam-packed with political figures, coal industry representatives, environmental groups and citizens, all weighing in on the possible repeal of the plan that was meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Over the course of two days, about 200 people were expected to provide comments in three different hearing rooms.
Today seems to be shaping up to be more low-key. No press conferences are scheduled, and the focus appears to be more on average citizens.
“By simplifying and streamlining the tax filing process it lifts a huge burden off of the middle class. Higher standard deductions and lower rates for businesses will also encourage economic growth and the creation of jobs,” the governor said. “I urge our Congressional representatives to vote for this tax reform package so President Trump can sign it into law.”
“At the same time, we’re starting to see the same type of impact with the overworked staff, underpaid staff at a place that’s keeping the baddest of the bad out of society.”
West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha) is the latest legislative leader to express outrage over excessive spending by the West Virginia Supreme Court on office renovations and furnishings.
The Court has spent $3.7 million in office repairs, redecorating and refurbishing over the last several years, and some of the spending is more in keeping with the tastes of a millionaire than of a poor state that struggles to balance a tight budget.
Six months after his release from federal prison, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is reported to be running for U.S. Senate.
Word of a potential Blankenship candidacy has been circulating widely, but was reported as a done deal on Wednesday by WCHS-TV, which said Blankenship had filed federal elections paperwork the previous day, on Tuesday.
The West Virginia Senate Finance Committee hired a former state official who paid out $10,000 as the result of a 2015 ethics investigation as its legal counsel
Robin Capehart, the former Secretary of Tax and Revenue under Gov. Cecil Underwood and former West Liberty University president, will join the staff, according to a news release.
“The factors that come into play are really divided into two categories,” Deskins explained. “In the first category, there are healthcare costs, substance abuse treatment costs and criminal justice costs, such as police protection, legal and correctional facilities costs. West Virginia is tying up so many of its resources in these areas. It is a steep investment of time, skills, knowledge and resources that could be spent on tackling other problems.”
“We are at a precipice and need to act with a sense of urgency,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, West Virginia’s public health commissioner. “These statistics are alarming, and every day we wait to take action is another day we are losing people to addiction and overdose.”
(TNS) — After two years and spending more than $500,000, Madison is far behind and well short of goals for a pilot program to deliver low-cost Internet service to four low-income neighborhoods.
The city’s private contractor, ResTech Services of Madison, had delays in extending fiber cable to the neighborhoods, and once there, found unexpected barriers in getting permission from property owners to connect to buildings and so far has signed up few customers.
The Charlotte Regional Partnership said Tuesday that it now doesn’t expect to hear until early next year whether it made the shortlist for Amazon’s second headquarters.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing Uber, after the ride-hailing company waited more than a year to reveal that it had been hacked, resulting in the breach of personal data for customers and drivers.
On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced the addition of autism and obstructive sleep apnea to the state’s medical marijuana program. Starting July 1, 2018, patients who suffer from these conditions will be eligible to apply for the program.
