West Virginia

Reflecting on West Virginia’s 2024 legislative session

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2024

Reflecting on West Virginia’s 2024 legislative session

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – West Virginia’s 2024 regular legislative session ended last weekend.

We talked with Wood County Delegate Scot Heckert to look back on what lawmakers did and didn’t get done during the 60-day session.

Heckert pointed to several pieces of legislation that made it through both houses by the March 9th deadline, including raises for teachers and other state employees, tax cuts on social security benefits, and more state oversight for recovery residences.

Heckert said he wants lawmakers to address more things during a special session in May, including funding for the state’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Waiver. “The IDD waiver,” Heckert said. “They’re the most vulnerable people in our state, and the people that take care of them are their only source of being taken care of. I have the utmost surety that we’ll push and get what we need to get for them to get things done.”

Further funding for the IDD waiver was left out of the budget lawmakers passed last Saturday due to ongoing negotiations between the governor’s office and the federal government over how state and federal dollars were used to fund education during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Governor Justice has said he intends to call a special session after those negotiations are complete to make changes to the state budget before the next fiscal year starts on July First.

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West Virginia

Critically wounded West Virginia National Guard member being moved to in-patient rehabilitation

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Critically wounded West Virginia National Guard member being moved to in-patient rehabilitation

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West Virginia

E-News | Downtown Dash planned Dec. 13

Published

14 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Join the Main Street Morgantown family-friendly holiday shopping event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 13) in Downtown Morgantown.

The event will feature a district-wide scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes and the opportunity to explore holiday pop-up markets by Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op and Apothecary Ale House.

While exploring downtown shops, participants who spot DASH the Dog can collect stamps. Each stamp brings participants closer to the chance of winning prizes from downtown merchants such as gift cards and goods. To qualify for prizes, completed Downtown Dash Guides with five or more stamps must be turned into Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op, Apothecary Ale House or at Breezeline’s play-to-win tent on Courthouse Square.

As a break from shopping, parents and their little ones can visit Kids Craft, Cookies & Cocoa Central at the WARD Building to enjoy a complimentary hot cocoa and cookie bar and children’s crafts provided by Hotel Morgan sponsored by Main Street Morgantown and Breezeline.

Visitors can also visit the beautiful 25-foot-tall holiday tree on display at Courthouse Square, a collaboration between the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County and Main Street Morgantown.

Sponsored by Breezeline, the Downtown Dash celebrates the holiday season, promotes walking and shopping throughout the downtown district, and supports local businesses by driving foot traffic directly to storefronts.

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West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

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West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success

WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation visited the Wheeling Police Department to commend its efforts in addressing the area’s mental health and opioid crisis.

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger presented to the WVFF board, highlighting the department’s progress.

Schwertfeger attributed a 14% decrease in Group A crimes from 2024 to 2025 to the department’s crisis intervention program.

“Just another great partnership,” he said. “More collaboration in this area that we are very proud of and we want to keep the momentum going,.”

WVFF Executive Director Jonathan Board praised the program’s success.

“This in particular, the CIT program, that isn’t just in the ether, but is showing success – actual scientific success about de-escalation, about bringing together services providers and to boots on the ground and first responders, this is vitally important to not only this region but the entire state,” Board said.

The visit was part of WVFF’s ‘Hold the Line’ tour across the state.

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