CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several state lawmakers say it’s past time to make Juneteenth an official state holiday.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey
House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle and Del. Hollis Lewis, both African American, led a news conference Thursday at the capitol after Gov. Patrick Morrisey decided against proclaiming the day a state holiday like former governor, now U.S. Senator, Jim Justice did for the past few years. State offices were open Thursday.
Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, became a federal holiday in 2021.
Morrisey did issue a proclamation about the day itself.
Advertisement
“West Virginia has a proud founding as a free state during the Civil War and was built upon the principles of freedom and liberty,” Morrisey said. “Juneteenth is an important day in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder that all of us should be treated equally under the eyes of God and the law.”
A spokesman for Morrisey said a couple of weeks ago the day would not be a holiday, “due to the continued fiscal challenges facing West Virginia, state government will not be sponsoring any formal activities.”
Hollis Lewis
Lewis, D-Kanawha, said it’s time to change state code to make Juneteenth an official holiday, not waiting on a proclamation. He said he plans on reintroducing a bill to do just that.
“Reintroducing that bill that I introduced in 2024 again in 2026,” Lewis said.
He said several West Virginians played a key role in ending slavery.
“Booker T. Washington, Martin R. Delany and many, many more; these are West Virginians who fought for West Virginia and fought for freedom not only in the United States but all around the world,” Lewis said.
Advertisement
Sean Hornbuckle
Hornbuckle said there are some that don’t like Juneteenth being made a federal holiday. He said there are efforts to deemphasize it.
“It’s going across the country to have things the same way,” Hornbuckle said. “We’re going to fight back. Respectfully, it is wrong”
He looked around the room at Wednesday’s news conference and noted the unity.
“We’re not going to stand for it and that’s why everyone is in here to do; red, yellow, black and white,” he said. “We’re going to stand tall and we’re going to stand together.”
County courthouses across the state were closed Thursday because it was a federal holiday. It’s guidance the counties received from state Attorney General J.B. McCuskey.
“So, if there is a federal holiday, it is our opinion that the courtrooms themselves be closed and we are working closely with the Supreme Court as they issue guidance on what that means and how it should be carried out in courtrooms across the state,” McCuskey said earlier this week.
Advertisement
Friday is West Virginia Day, a day off for state workers.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed a new member of the state House of Delegates.
Shane Thomas Stack, of Triadelphia, was appointed Tuesday to represent District 4. Stack replaces former Delegate Bill Flanigan who resigned to join the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia following his election to the Division 2 seat.
Advertisement
“Shane Stack is an outstanding choice to represent the families and communities of the fourth district,” Morrisey said in a release. “With his deep roots in the local community, his background as a business owner, and his proven experience managing municipal finances, Shane understands what it takes to support economic growth and advocate for working West Virginians. He will serve his constituents well in Charleston.”
In Morrisey’s release, it said that Stack has a diverse background in small business ownership, municipal finance, and higher education administration. Stack currently is the owner, licensed auctioneer, and certified appraiser for Frio Stack & Associates, as well as the owner of Island Pawn & Gun.
Stack previously worked as the Town Treasurer for West Liberty.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in General Business from West Liberty University.
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Sentencing is underway for Timothy Kennedy, the man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Police Trooper Cory Maynard.
Trooper Maynard was shot to death in June 2023.
The jury found Kennedy guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree disarming a law enforcement officer, and two counts of first-degree attempted murder.
Shannon Litton has has that, plus your other top stories for Tuesday, July 7th.
