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.”

Technology has come a long way in the game of football and West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that it certainly has a place.

The Mountaineers utilize GPS trackers with players that display the speeds that they run as well as the yardage that a player hits during the course of practice.

Essentially, the vests serve as a comprehensive look at player performance and movement while also providing insight into injury prevention and planning.

It’s not anything new to the West Virginia football program, but it is something that Rodriguez certainly sees the benefits of especially in one key area.

“I think the best thing that I get from it, or we get from it, is probably the yardage they get,” he said.

In the first practice of the spring, the average skill player got around 6,000 yards and the linemen were at 5,000 with the exception of one that somehow hit 8,500.

“I’m thinking he must have kept his on while he was driving home,” Rodriguez joked.

But that data can be used in a variety of ways and provides the coaching staff with insight into how players are practicing and what can be learned from it.

The other aspect that is beneficial is the helmet-to-helmet communication, especially with the quarterbacks although Rodriguez admits that he doesn’t get on it because of his penchant for yelling. He designates that responsibility to quarterbacks coach Rhett Rodriguez, who has a much calmer demeanor.

“He’s the one that’s talking to the quarterback,” he said.

And while the system shuts off with 15-seconds left on the play clock, that shouldn’t present any sort of issues with the Mountaineers as the offense is designed to snap the ball quickly from play to play. On the other side of the ball, that responsibility often goes to the linebackers and is just another way for the coaching staff and players to communicate and understand prior to a play.

“That’s been a good help for them,” Rodriguez said.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The state Attorney General’s Office has offered an advisory for Mountain State residents wishing to help with flood relief efforts in the southern part of the state.

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said residents across the state must be vigilant of scammers. This includes scammers who have worked to gain funds from donations or who have directly impacted victims of flooding through fake repair estimates.

“We know that we live in a place here in West Virginia where our citizens are more likely to help their neighbors than probably any other place in the entire world and because of that, fraudsters know that they can take advantage of the good-heartedness of the people in West Virginia,” he said.

According to McCuskey, reports from outside of the flood impact zones in southern West Virginia have stated that residents around the north central part of the state have received calls from scammers claiming to be from a charitable organization in an attempt to receive donations. This includes several scammers attempting to receive funds by claiming to be a part of newly established organizations, many of which also claimed to be associated with reputable groups such as the United Way and the American Red Cross. If that happens to any North Central West Virginia residents, McCuskey advises not directly giving them any information over the phone and cross-checking to see their credentials with the help of the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website.

“Make sure that the charity that you’re donating to is also reputable,” said McCuskey on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “You can also find them on the Secretary of State’s website, but you can also just make sure that the people you’re giving to have a long and reputable history of helping.”

For victims of flooding in the southern part of the state, McCuskey stated the majority of his reports heard from the State Attorney General’s Office have stemmed from fake contractors who offer to do remodeling services at incredibly high rates. Based on reports made to the State Attorney General’s Office, victims have been approached by non-licensed contractors in an attempt to bypass any long waits for home repairs, which for some victims was almost a total loss. For residents still working to recover, McCuskey warns to be wary of any non-certified contractor estimates, which could have financial impacts that would be hard to recover from.

“We are urging all people who have been affected by this flood to make sure the people that you are contracting are registered,” said McCuskey. “Go on the Secretary of State’s website, find their business license, and make sure that these folks are real, because we know that scammers and fraudsters always come out of the woodwork after these kinds of things.”

In order to avoid such scamming attempts, McCuskey advises Mountain State residents to do a combination of due diligence and common sense before giving away their hard-earned dollars. Not only does this include a full list of reputable charitable organizations listed on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, but also a list of licensed contractors that is available through the West Virginia Department of Labor. With several avenues to gain more information, but supported and not supported by the state, McCuskey warns Mountain State residents to use caution before sending money if you want to help flood victims.

“Commonsense is one of those phrases that is very easy to define when you’re not in a hyper-stressful situation,” said McCuskey. “And so, what we really need is for people to take a deep breath and make sure the people you’re working with are reputable,” he said.