Top Headlines

Bellaire Coach Arrested On 11 Counts Of Pandering Obscenity Involving A Minor

BELLAIRE – Longtime Bellaire track coach and educator Shawn Valloric was arrested Thursday and faces child pornography charges. Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan confirmed Valloric’s arrest on 11 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, but said he could not comment on the matter until the investigation report “is received and reviewed” by his office. Flanagan also confirmed that Valloric was arrested on school grounds by the Belmont County Sheriff Office. Video of Valloric’s arrest at Bellaire High School was circulating on social media by Thursday evening ...

Capito Signals Support For Anti-Fraud Measures But Concern For Green Card Holders

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Thursday she supports efforts to eliminate fraud impacting federal funds but wants more information about one step recently taken. Asked during her weekly press briefing Thursday about a policy change taking effect Sunday that prevents green card holders from applying for Small Business Administration loans, Capito, R-W.Va., said she does not oppose providing support to non-citizen business owners who are in the country legally. “If in fact there’s fraud in SBA – and I would have to think there probably is for them to ...

Effort to kill bill weakening home school standards on first reading fails

CHARLESTON – A rare debate broke out in the West Virginia Senate Thursday over a bill not yet up for passage that would decrease regulations on home school families. Senate Bill 966, changing requirements for home school instruction, was read a first time Thursday and will be up on second ...

EAM-WV Economic Development Bill Next In House ‘Jobs First’ Agenda

CHARLESTON – The latest bill in the House of Delegates Republican caucus' “Jobs First - Opportunity Everywhere” economic development agenda would create a program similar to an Ohio initiative meant to take politics out of economic development decisions. The House Finance Committee recommended a committee substitute Thursday for House Bill 4001, creating the TEAM-WV corporation, for passage to the full House. TEAM-WV would be a private, non-stock nonprofit corporation designed to modernize and accelerate economic development in West Virginia. It would function as a depoliticized ...

W.Va. House Passes “Jobs First” Bill aimed at aerospace industry

CHARLESTON - The latest "Jobs First - Opportunity Everywhere" bill to make it through the West Virginia House of Delegates is aimed at transforming the state into a competitive hub for the aerospace industry. The House passed House Bill 4006, creating the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act, Friday morning in a 87-7 vote with six absent or not voting. The bill now heads to the state Senate, joining several other bills in the House Republican caucus' Jobs First - Opportunity Everywhere economic development agenda first unveiled last December. "This is part ...

Bills Regulating Cryptocurrency Kiosks On The Move

CHARLESTON – Bills addressing the concerns of the West Virginia chapter of AARP over the growing trend of cryptocurrency kiosks are on the move in both the House of Delegates and state Senate. The House Finance Committee recommended a committee substitute for House Bill 5353 Thursday morning, sending it to the full House for consideration. The bill's lead sponsor is House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood. HB 5353 would create a regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks – also called cryptocurrency kiosks – and digital wallets. Operators would be classified ...