Craig Blair

Gov. Jim Justice was light on details Wednesday about changes coming to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources following an outside report that showed how the agency could improve.

Republicans bolstered their supermajority on election night but Democrats say they will continue to work for policies that help people.

Tens of millions of dollars are appropriated to state agencies for vacancies, many of which remained unfilled for years — skewing the state budget process.

The question of whether the state Senate can restrict recording of meetings is still open after a court hearing on Thursday.

West Virginia leaders in K-12 education are speaking out against a resolution approved by the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution, if approved by voters this fall, would allow the legislature to take rule-making authority from the West Virginia Board of Education.

The bill establishes a mining mutual insurance company. The company would sell bonds for mine reclamation and serve as a backstop to the existing Special Reclamation Fund.

Concerns over vulnerable mine reclamation bonds in West Virginia has the Senate attempting to be proactive according to Senate President Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) who introduced Senate Bill 1, “Creating a Mining Mutual Insurance Company” on the first day of the 2022 legislative session.

A new statewide academic competition – that will mirror a history bowl format – will launch for West Virginia high school students this month. The West Virginia Academic Showdown will be a head-to-head competition between high school teams from across the state.

Former State Senator Sue Cline, 75, of Brenton, West Virginia, has died. Cline served in the state senate from 2016 to 2020 representing the 9th Senatorial District

Gov. Jim Justice announced that he will seek a five percent raise for all state employees in 2022. Additionally, Justice announced that all state employees will receive a one-time 2.5 percent bonus to combat the rising costs of inflation.