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Local Government

Order calls for garnishing gov’s wages, Auditor’s Office says it will comply

CHARLESTON — A court judgment proposes to garnish the wages Jim Justice earns as governor to resolve a big business debt, and the state Auditor’s Office says it is prepared to comply just the way it would for any similar court order affecting a state employee. “When we receive a wage garnishment order issued by a court, it is processed as directed by applicable statutes, rules and regulations,” stated Kallie Cart, spokeswoman for the Auditor’s Office in response to a MetroNews question about how the matter would be handled. “This is done without regard to whom the ...

Concerns voiced over state employee health insurance bill

BY MIKE NOLTING About 25 people attended the Morgantown Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) meeting Tuesday night. Those who spoke expressed concerns about cost and a lack of timely communication during debate over Senate Bill 268, the measure designed to stabilize the health ...

Butcher, Mayle square off in Morgantown’s 7th Ward in replay of 2021

MORGANTOWN — In a replay of the 2021 election, Brian Butcher and Ben Mayle have stepped forward to represent Morgantown’s 7th Ward. Butcher, the incumbent, defeated Mayle 804-608 to win a two-year term in what ended up being the tightest contest on the ballot. During that same ...

Stuart hoping governor signs HB 2310

CHARLESTON — Kanawha County Sen. Mike Stuart says he hopes Gov. Jim Justice looks favorably on a bill that includes a proposal to change required vehicle safety inspections in West Virginia from the current annual requirement to once every two years. Stuart’s original bill, SB 254, passed the state Senate earlier in the 60-day session but was folded into another bill dealing with classic cars in the final hours of the session. The combined bill, HB 2310, is awaiting the governor’s decision. Stuart, during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” said he hoped the bill would ...

Sen. Joe Manchin announces $748K for NASA research

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $748,564 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for a three-year research initiative at West Virginia University. The funding will be used to implement the West Virginia Research Infrastructure Development (WV RID) Project, which will integrate research, education and workforce development to support critical technological and scientific advancements. “West Virginia has a long history of space exploration, ...

Dual enrollment program to give college credits

The West Virginia Legislature adopted and Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation establishing West Virginia’s first statewide dual enrollment program to allow more students to take college courses in high school. Through House Bill 2005, West Virginia’s higher education system will launch a pilot program this fall that will cover the costs of dual enrollment courses offered by the state’s colleges and universities that are tied to some of West Virginia’s most in-demand careers. “Prior to this legislation, what we have had is a system that favors our highest achieving, ...