Education focus groups to be held statewide by AFT-WV, WVEA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Representatives of WVU and Marshall made budget presentations before the state Senate Finance Committee on Thursday afternoon. Both schools described a rapidly changing post-pandemic environment that makes state funding very important to their budgets. The legislature approved $16.6 million for WVU and $9.7 million for MU.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission is recommending state lawmakers receive a $10,000 pay raise. The commission, which meets every four years as spelled out in the state Constitution, recently passed a resolution recommending lawmakers annual pay be increased to equal the per capita income in West Virginia. Commission Chairman Mike Hall, a former state lawmaker, told MetroNews that’s about $30,000.

–Anger among those opposed to a ban on gender affirming surgery for children in W.Va. –The Senate advances a bill creating tighter restrictions on tobacco use in the state. –Herbert Hoover High School is nearing completion after the old school was destroyed in the 2016 flood. –In Sports: Marshall grabs...

Gov. Jim Justice submitted a bill meant to transfer $678 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to state development funds. Not everybody thinks that’s a great idea. House Bill 2883 calls for $500 million to be transferred to the state Economic Development Authority, a $177 million transfer to...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Monongalia and Preston counties will have their days at the state legislature Thursdsay. Popular buckwheat breakfasts will be prepared for state lawmakers by Career Technical Education students from Preston High School. Morgantown Area Partnership (MAP) President and CEO Russ Rogerson said after breakfast there will be...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — WorkForce West Virginia is rolling out a program for employers aimed at reducing layoffs. The Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program allows hours to be reduced across the entire workforce and the wage difference is picked up by unemployment compensation through WorkForce West Virginia, according to WorkForce acting Commissioner Scott Adkins.

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Diversified Energy says a new Bridgeport headquarters for one of its subsidiaries will help the company keep its commitment to retire 200 gas wells a year. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday for Next LVL Energy’s new headquarters and training facility. “Diversified Energy’s continued...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill to exempt certain employees from municipal user fees advanced out of a House of Delegates committee Wednesday morning, but with concerns that it’s too vague and needs work before it hits its next committee desk. HB 2576 says that “a municipality shall not...

Governor Jim Justice wants to negotiate. The West Virginia Governor said on Talkline Wednesday that he is ready and willing to try to get a deal with Senate Republicans on a tax cut plan, and that willingness includes giving ground. “We’d absolutely compromise,” Justice said. Justice wants to...

Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which had been the state’s last abortion clinic, has filed a federal lawsuit over the ban passed last fall. The plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia to issue an injunction to block the entire ban while the full case is considered by the court. They contend West Virginia’s law is irrational and unconstitutional.

Gov. Jim Justice said he was doing a cannonball when he proposed a 50 percent personal income tax cut over three years, but the governor also says he’s willing to negotiate with senators who might have misgivings. “We’d absolutely compromise,” Justice said during a radio town hall on MetroNews’...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County jury has awarded a former chief administrative law judge $2.2 million in connection with her retaliation case she filed against the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. The six-member jury reached its decision in the Rebecca Roush case this week after a...

WESTON, W.Va. — A former Lewis County middle school teacher has been convicted of battery and sentenced to one year in the Central Regional Jail. Michael Terango, 50, was convicted by a magistrate court jury this week for rubbing a student’s leg while helping her with a lesson during class at Robert L. Bland Middle School.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A man wanted in connection with a drug investigation in southern West Virginia has been arrested in California. The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force announced Thursday that Elijah Tariq Figg, 23, of Huntington, was taken into custody in Los Angeles Wednesday.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following another standout running season Morgantown High’s Irene Riggs has been awarded a second straight McCoy Award by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. The McCoy Award is given to the top male and female track athletes each year. Riggs became the first-ever Mohigan to...

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In his 24 years as a head coach, Bridgeport’s Dave Marshall has seen just about every type of basketball roster possible. This year’s group is unique. With the exception of returning starting guard Anthony Spatafore, almost all of the Indians are getting their first look at varsity-level hoops this winter.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia never led in Wednesday’s matchup with No. 24 Texas at the WVU Coliseum. Still, despite sputtering offensively for much of the contest, the Mountaineers stuck with the Longhorns and trailed by three points entering the fourth quarter and five with inside 5 minutes to play.

ST. MARYS, W.Va. — St. Marys played a nearly perfect first half of basketball to build a 21-point lead at intermission and the Blue Devils fought off a late rally from Charleston Catholic, 54-40. The Blue Devils avenged a 47-41 loss to the Irish in Charleston on January 16.

The Mountaineer basketball team again finds itself in a precarious position. Tuesday’s loss to No. 15 TCU makes Saturday’s home game against Oklahoma extremely important for WVU and its postseason chances. The Sooners romped over No. 2 Alabama last Saturday, but suffered a double-digit loss to rival Oklahoma...

SALEM, W.Va. – A Harrison County man is facing charges after police say he strangled a cat and made threats to police. The Salem Police Department began the investigation Wednesday at 5 p.m. at a West Main Street residence. There, they made contact with Joshua Bjorson, 29, of Salem, and learned he had been drinking alcohol for about two hours because it was his birthday before an altercation occurred with a woman.