West Virginia
COMMENTARY: Food Additive Ban Bill an Early Test for Morrisey – WV MetroNews
Governor Patrick Morrisey faces perhaps the first major political test of his term, centered on a classic policy debate: the government’s interest in ensuring public health versus individual consumer choice.
At the heart of the matter is HB 2354, a bill that seeks to ban several food additives, including butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, and multiple FD&C color additives. If signed into law, the bill would prohibit the sale of products containing these substances in West Virginia beginning January 1, 2027. The legislation now awaits the Governor’s signature.
Supporters argue that HB 2354 aligns with President Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative and would force manufacturers to reformulate their products for the betterment of consumers. Lead sponsor Delegate Adam Burkhammer recently told the Daily Caller that these additives are “poison.” Delegate Evan Worrell expressed frustration with the Governor’s – real or perceived – hesitancy, stating, “I don’t know what his (Morrisey’s) hang-up is… This is an easy win. And I’ve texted him that. I said, ‘This is easy. You get out there and say you’re supporting the MAHA movement.’”
Opponents, however, warn that approximately 60 percent of grocery store items could be affected by the ban, according to research from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They caution that the bill could lead to increased food prices and potential job losses in the state.
Now that the bill has completed the legislative process, Governor Morrisey has five days (once received) to either sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. While the bill’s final passage, specifically in the House, saw a diminished margin compared to earlier votes, the Republican majority in both chambers could easily override a veto with a simple majority vote.
Capitol scuttlebutt suggests the Governor is not a proponent of the legislation but may prefer to avoid an early confrontation with the legislature, especially given West Virginia’s strong support for Donald Trump’s policies. A first-term governor having his veto overridden so early in office could be politically damaging. This leaves the option of allowing the bill to become law without his signature, a move seen as the safest political route.
The potential backlash? Traditional conservatives and business advocates, including the American Beverage Association, argue that government should not dictate manufacturing decisions or restrict consumer choice. They are urging the Governor to veto the bill, banking on opposition from those who see the legislation as government overreach.
What action will Governor Morrisey ultimately take? Which camp is stronger, MAHA or traditional conservatives and pro-business groups? How will the reckoning of this issue affect the rest of the session, if at all?
All remains to be seen, but we should know more this week.
Editor’s Note: HB 2354 would ban Red Dye 3, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5, Yellow Dye 6, Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, and Green Dye 3 effective August 1, 2025 as an ingredient in any meal served in a school nutrition program. Further, “an elementary, middle, or high school may permit the sale of food items that do not comply… as part of a school fundraising event if the sale of those items takes place off of and away from school premises or the sale of those items takes place on the school premises at least one-half hour after the end of the school day.”
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.
Now that you know about West Virginia’s 2026 recruiting class, I figured it’d be a good time to give a little insight into those who were once committed to the Mountaineers and landed elsewhere.
What happened, and where did they go?
QB Brodie McWhorter (Mississippi State)
McWhorter committed to Neal Brown and his coaching staff, but reopened his recruitment when the coaching change was made. Rich Rodriguez did recruit him at the beginning, holding several conversations with him before backing off and pursuing Jyron Hughley and Legend Bey. Hughley committed, Bey committed to Ohio State (signed with Tennessee), while WVU added two more quarterbacks in Wyatt Brown and John Johnson III.
RB Jett Walker (Texas)
Walker fit the bill for what Rodriguez wanted in the backfield. A big, physical presence who could absorb contact and hammer it in between the tackles. With multiple backs committed and feeling good about a few others, WVU didn’t feel pressed to hold onto him. Walker flipped to Minnesota and then flipped to Texas just three weeks later
WR Jeffar Jean-Noel (Georgia Tech)
Jean-Noel was the second recruit to commit to Rodriguez in the 2026 class, but reopened his recruitment in mid-April. He then considered Purdue, Pitt, Kentucky, UCF, and Florida State before landing at Georgia Tech.
OL Justyn Lyles (Marshall)
The Mountaineers had a number of offensive line commits, and with the late additions of Kevin Brown and Aidan Woods, and their chances of securing Jonas Muya, Lyles took a visit to Marshall and flipped his commitment.
LB Caleb Gordon (North Carolina)
Gordon’s commitment to WVU was very brief. As a matter of fact, it was the shortest of the bunch, announcing his pledge on November 24th and then flipping to NC State on the first day of the early signing period (December 3rd).
LB Daiveon Taylor (Kent State)
Taylor was the first commit in the class; however, it was so early that he was committed to Neal Brown’s staff, announcing his decision in April of 2024. He backed off that pledge the very day Brown was fired (December 1st) and eventually signed with Kent State.
CB Emari Peterson (unsigned)
Peterson decommitted from WVU just days before signing day, likely due to the Mountaineers zeroing in on a pair of JUCO corners in Rayshawn Reynolds and Da’Mun Allen. He will sign in February and currently has offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, South Florida, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, Toledo, Wake Forest, and a few others.
S Aaron Edwards (committed to Tulsa)
West Virginia chose to part ways with Edwards and ultimately replaced his spot with fellow JUCO safety Da’Mare Williams.
S Jaylon Jones (undecided)
Jones decommitted in late October and did not sign during the early signing period. He will likely choose between Central Michigan, Hawai’i, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas State.
S Taj Powell (Louisville)
Taj is the brother of former Mountaineer basketball guard Jonathan Powell, who is now at North Carolina. He decommitted the day after West Virginia lost to Ohio and flipped to Louisville that same day.
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A West Virginia National Guard member who was fatally shot last month in the nation’s capital was laid to rest with full military honors in a private ceremony.
Spc. Sarah Beckstrom’s funeral took place Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement.
“The ceremony was deeply moving and reflected the strength, grace, and love of a remarkable young woman and the family and friends who surrounded her,” Morrisey said.
Beckstrom graduated with honors from Webster County High School in 2023 and joined the National Guard several weeks later. She served in the 863rd Military Police Company.
Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House on Nov. 26. She died the next day.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty.
Morrisey has said Wolfe, who remains in a hospital in Washington, is slowly healing and his family expects he will be in acute care for another few weeks.
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