West Virginia
Lawmakers eyeing changes to the PSC as the legislative session is underway
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — With utility rates raising concern among many people across the Mountain State, lawmakers in the West Virginia Senate are eyeing ways to bring change.
Senate Bill 119, introduced by Cabell County Democrat Senator Mike Woelfel, would require Commissioners of the Public Service Commission to be elected rather than appointed.
“At this point, the fact that the commissioners are appointed by the governor really gives the citizens really no accountability in terms of holding folks responsible for these high utility rates,” Woelfel said.
According to move.org, people in the Mountain State pay the highest average water bill in the country at $121. They also found people in West Virginia are paying around $42 more per month for utilities this year compared to last.
Woelfel said West Virginians are facing some of the highest utility rates in the country, and this bill would add an extra layer of accountability and oversight.
“There’s not a consumer representative on there,” he said. “The deck is stacked in favor of utilities and this is not a panacea. This is one measure among others that I’d like to see enacted that would help our residents in terms of managing the utility costs.”
Woelfel’s bill is being supported by Ohio County Republican Senator Laura Chapman, proving it’s a bipartisan effort.
“I think that again, transparency and accountability needs to happen in this arena because we have more energy resources under our feet in West Virginia than Saudi Arabia,” Chapman said. “Why are our costs the number one in America?”
Chapman is also proposing legislation that would put a freeze on utility rates, giving the PSC about a year’s time to find solutions to curb rate hikes, something both Chapman and Woelfel said is a step in the right direction.
“So they’ll be evaluating if there’s any cost drivers, if there’s infrastructure costs that are too astronomical and doesn’t make sense for the public to have to pay for,” Chapman said.
OHIO COUNTY, WV — Protesters lined Kruger Street and National Road in Wheeling on Saturday as part of “No Kings” demonstrations held across the country.
People were already packed along the streets before the protest began at 11:30 as participants cited rising gas prices and the controversial Iran war. Protesters chanted and voiced their opinions during the event.
Teddie Grogan said the group gathered to push back against what they see as undemocratic leadership and unnecessary conflict. “We’re here today to protest the fact that we want our country we want it run as a democracy we don’t want wars that are somebodys choice and not a necessity,” Grogan said.
Former U.S. military member Cody Cumpston also criticized the current administration and said he is frustrated by the cost of living and the direction of the country. “I’m here today because of the current administration we’re in a new war we didn’t need to be in prices are still skyrocketing I’m just tired of it I feel like they’ve forgotten all about us and they keep forgetting about us,” Cumpston said.
Another protester, April Pascoli, said she believes many people are not aware of what the administration is doing internationally and at home. “If I don’t go to work one day and I ask people do you know what’s happening in this country? And somebody says, we’re at war right now? Really? People my age don’t even know that we have troops on the ground, that they are bombing. Bombing our bases in the middle east. Do you know that, do you realize that?” Pascoli said.
The No. 17 West Virginia Mountaineers (17-4, 5-1) are in a top 25 road matchup and look to remain atop the Big 12 Conference standings against the No. 22 Arizona State Devils (18-6, 4-2) for a three-game weekend series. Game one is Friday night with the first pitch set for 9:30 p.m. EST (ESPN+) game two is Saturday at 9:30 p.m. EST (ESPN+) and the series finale is scheduled for Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. EST (ESPN2).
West Virginia comes into the game on a six-game winning streak after taking two of three from Baylor, sweeping BYU and knocked off Marshall Tuesday night.
Two Mountaineers reside in the top five of the Big 12 in batting averaging. Paul Schoenfeld has emerged as the Mountaineers leader at the plate, hitting a team-high .418, which ranks third in the conference with a team-best 26 RBI. The senior is currently on an 11-game hitting streak.
Gavin Kelly is fourth in the league with a .416 batting average and is riding a 17-game hitting streak. The sophomore leads the team in hits (37), runs (28) and doubles (11).
Senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high four home runs, while junior Armani leads the Mountaineers in stolen bases with 12.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start Dawson Montesa in the series opener. The junior right hander threw seven innings in his last outing against BYU, tying a season-high, with seven strikeouts. He holds 4-0 record with 4.65 ERA and 39 strikeouts.
Lefty Maxx Yehl is scheduled to move to the middle of the series after closing out each of the first six series of the season. The redshirt junior is second in the conference in ERA at .084, allowing a mere three runs in 32.0 innings of work. In the last two outings, he has recorded a combined 23 strikeouts, upping his season total to a team-leading 44 strikeouts on the season.
Chansen Cole will start game three. The right-handed sophomore had his toughest outing of the season last weekend against BYU. He allowed six earned runs in three innings, but registered six strikeouts. He is currently 3-0 with a 4.00 ERA with 29 strikeouts.
Arizona State is 11-2 after a four-game skid against SEC opponents, and notched its series wins over TCU and Kansas State.
Sophomore Landon Hairston leads the team with a .458 batting average, tie with fifth-year senior Dean Toigo with 11 home runs, 11 doubles, 36 runs, and 34 RBI.
Junior lefty Cole Carlon is slated to counter with Cole Carlon (2-1, 3.19 ERA), junior right-hander Alex Overbay (0-0, 5.19 ERA), is set for game two, and senior righty Kole Klecker (3-1, 5.61 ERA) is scheduled for the series finale.
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
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