West Virginia
COVID funds issue trips up W.Va. budget
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Passing a budget has become a bit trickier for West Virginia lawmakers.
Finance leaders and the Governor’s Office confirmed that West Virginia is in negotiations with the federal government regarding an issue with $465 million in federal COVID relief.
Simply put, leaders WSAZ spoke with say the feds believe, with the COVID money West Virginia received, state education spending should have increased more than it did.
“There’s no panic involved in this,” said Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood.
“There’s no issue whatsoever of any misspending or misappropriation of money,” said Brian Abraham, chief of staff for the West Virginia Governor’s Office.
But faced with the prospect of paying back $465 million it is having an impact on budgeting.
The Senate has taken steps to limit recurring expenses like pay raises.
The House is holding off on millions in surplus spending, including money for senior centers and first-responder training.
“We want to make sure that we’ve got enough in the piggy bank to cover any expenses might have,” said Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam.
“We want to be prepared to be able to, if we have to, write a check,” Criss said. “We don’t particularly want to do, but we need to make sure — worst case scenario, I want to be prepared.”
All of this is happening as negotiations continue between the Governor’s Office and the federal government.
“I agree, wait and see is an OK thing and to be assured finally of something, but there was no reason to just cut wholesale from the budget in anticipation of something like this because that wasn’t needed,” Abraham said.
Lawmakers voted to spend more money for the school equipment and construction. They hope that increase, with pay raises and increased elementary spending in last year’s session, will satisfy the federal government and prevent any pay back.
“So that should also chip away at that $465 (million),” Tarr said. “Those have all been the discussions going on with the federal government.”
Lawmakers have a week to agree upon a budget.
Criss, the House finance chair, saying what passes may be a place holder until a special session.
Tarr, the Senate finance leader, hoping for something more solid.
The Governor’s Office holds out hope for a resolution with the federal government in the week ahead, but if that does not occur the Governor’s chief of staff says they are open to a special session later this spring.
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WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — A weekend filled with snow and frigid temperatures has prompted West Virginia school systems to delay or close schools, or move to non-traditional learning.
The following counties announced they will be closed on Monday, Dec. 15:
- Barbour
- Braxton
- Brooke
- Calhoun
- Clay
- Doddridge
- Gilmer
- Grant (partial)
- Hancock
- Harrison
- Jackson
- Kanawha
- Lewis
- Marion
- Marshall
- Monongalia
- Nicholas
- Ohio
- Pleasants
- Preston
- Putnam
- Randolph
- Roane
- Taylor
- Tucker
- Tyler
- Upshur
- Wayne
- Webster
- Wetzel
- Wirt
- Wood
The following counties announced that they will be operating on a delay on Monday:
- Berkeley
- Grant (partial)
- Greenbrier
- Hampshire
- Hardy
- Jefferson
- McDowell
- Mineral
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Pendleton
- Summers
Some Grant County schools have elected to operate on a delay rather than close altogether.
Meanwhile, a few schools have announced a move to non-traditional learning for Monday:
- Boone
- Cabell
- Fayette
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mason
- Mercer
- Mingo
- Pocahontas
- Raleigh
- Ritchie
For the latest updates on school closures in West Virginia, click here.
To get the latest weather information and forecasts, head to the Eyewitness News Storm Team page.
West Virginia had control of Saturday night’s Cleveland Hoops Showdown for long stretches, but a game that should have been put away in the second half turned into a gut-punch finish as the Mountaineers fell 89–88 to Ohio State in double overtime in Rocket Arena.
WVU dictated the game early, controlling the pace and limiting Ohio State’s early offense. After a back-and-forth opening stretch, the Mountaineers began to separate late in the first half and took control heading into the break. Honor Huff capped the half with a three on the final possession, sending WVU to the locker room up 37–27.
That momentum carried into the second half. Brenen Lorient scored on WVU’s first possession, and the Mountaineers continued to build on the lead. West Virginia pushed the margin to 51–35 as Huff and Jackson Fields knocked down back-to-back threes for a 16-point advantage that reflected how firmly the game had tilted in the Mountaineers’ favor.
Ohio State didn’t fold, and the game gradually tightened. The Buckeyes began cutting into the lead, forcing WVU into longer possessions on both ends. Even as the margin shrank, the Mountaineers kept finding ways to respond. A technical foul on Ohio State and a brief WVU run helped slow the momentum, but the lead continued to slip as the second half moved toward the final minutes.
Ohio State erased the deficit entirely and briefly took the lead on a deep three late in the half, but Fields answered on the other end to tie the game at 68 and send it to overtime.
The first overtime followed the same pattern. Huff opened the period with a three, Ohio State answered, and neither team could gain separation. WVU had chances to end it, but Ohio State stayed close enough to force a second overtime.
The second overtime was just as tight. Chance Moore opened with free throws, Lorient knocked down a kick-out three to reclaim the lead, and Huff hit a jumper with 12.3 seconds left to put WVU back in front 88–87. Ohio State answered again, taking the lead with 3.6 seconds remaining. West Virginia never got a shot off on the final possession.
Huff led the Mountaineers with 24 points after a slow start. Lorient turned in one of his most complete performances of the season, scoring 18 points on perfect shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. Moore added 15 points,10 of which came from the foul line, while Jasper Floyd finished with 14 points and helped set the offense going early.
WVU will close the non-conference schedule on Dec. 22 inside Hope Coliseum against Mississippi Valley State. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM on ESPN+
The Ohio State basketball team has had an up-and-down year so far. The record is respectable at 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, but by and large, it has beaten teams it was supposed to beat and lost in its two biggest contests.
The Buckeyes will try to get some forward momentum when they head to Cleveland to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown Saturday night. Much like Ohio State, the Mountaineers have had mixed reviews and lost games against the better competition. They sit at 8-3 overall.
As we pause for the Ohio State football team to get back in action, what better way to put your scarlet and gray colored glasses on than by watching OSU hoops try to notch another win in what we all hope is a berth in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. If so, we’ve got all you need to know to find and watch the game on Saturday.
Stream Ohio State basketball vs. West Virginia
What channel is Ohio State vs. West Virginia on today?
- TV Channel: ESPNU
- Livestream: FuboTV (subscription to new subscribers may be available)
Ohio State-West Virginia will be televised nationally on ESPNU. John Schriffen (play-by-play) and King McClure (analyst) will call the action from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which may offer a free trial to new subscribers.
Ohio State vs. West Virginia game time today
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
The Ohio State-West Virginia game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Stream Ohio State basketball vs. West Virginia
Ohio State vs. West Virginia, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Dec. 13
- Ohio State 72, West Virginia 67: This game will not be a free-flowing one and will look more like the game against Pitt than Illinois. That will benefit Ohio State with its ability to get into half-court sets and use its size and dribble penetration in the paint. It’ll be a lower-scoring, physical affair, but one in which the Buckeyes are able to outlast the Mountaineers.
- Spread: Ohio State -3.5
- Over/Under: 144
- Money line: Ohio State (-170), West Virginia (+145)
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
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