West Virginia

New West Virginia Senate president naive to think 'social issues' will be taken care of quickly • West Virginia Watch

Published

1 year ago

December 12, 2024

New West Virginia Senate president naive to think 'social issues' will be taken care of quickly • West Virginia Watch

Incoming Senate President Randy Smith told a TV news station this week that he plans to address “social issues” right away in the 2025 session.

“I would like to get anything like that out of the road so we can concentrate on economic development, creating jobs…” Smith told the station.

I couldn’t help but find his comments naive. Quaint, even.

“Social issues” are one of the right’s dog whistles for legislatively bullying everyone from trans kids to librarians. If Smith thinks he will ever be able to get them out of the way to focus on substantive issues, he’d better think again.

I hate to break it to the Senate president-elect, but once you start trying to appease the anti-liberty movement, they won’t let you stop. You’ll never reach a point where their agenda is “out of the road.” Once they’ve clawed back rights from one group, they’re immediately on to the next.

Ban trans kids from playing sports? Up next is policing cisgender girls’ femininity.

Ban gender affirming care for kids? Up next is restricting health care for trans adults.

Ban abortion? Up next is electronically tracking people’s menstrual cycles.

Ban same-sex marriage? Up next is eliminating no-fault divorce for everyone.

This is the defining feature of a movement that lacks real-world solutions for our real-world problems.

West Virginia is 48th in education. We have the third highest health insurance premiums in the country despite also being one of the poorest states. Tens of thousands lack access to clean water. Our twin crises of addiction and foster care continue to spiral out of control. Our jails are overcrowded and among the deadliest in the nation.

But rather than find solutions to these complex problems, it’s much easier to demonize our fellow citizens and pit neighbor against neighbor. Somewhere out there, there is always going to be someone who simply has too much freedom.

But Smith should also be aware that we are every bit as relentless as our opponents.

While they never stop searching for a group to oppress, we never stop looking for ways to expand the sacred promise encoded in the Bill of Rights.

Where the other side looks at the world and sees an excess of liberty, we will use every tool at our disposal to get the government out of people’s lives and personal decisions.

We and our allies have been on the front lines of this fight for more than 100 years and we aren’t going anywhere.

And we’ll be ready for the Senate president on day one.

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West Virginia

Let’s Go Fishing – WV MetroNews

Published

6 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

It doesn’t take much to engage children in the lifelong pursuit of fishing. PHOTO: Chris Lawrence

ELKINS, W.Va. — The requirement of a fishing license in West Virginia will be waived this weekend all across the Mountain State. June 13th and 14th are designated as “free” fishing days in West Virginia.

“All other regulations still apply, but this is for all of our public waters and this is for resident and NON-resident both,” said Frank Williams, acting director of the Division of Natural Resources hatchery programs.

The idea is to encourage all West Virginians to consider going fishing and see how much fun it can be. Many adults probably fished at some time in their lives and had fun, but when life happened schedules became too busy and fishing was one of the first casualties. The DNR is betting if people are introduced to fishing, they’ll be compelled to go buy a license and make fishing trips a part of life again.

“Life gets busy, but there’s always an opportunity and it’s nice to get out and get away from all of that and go to a pond or stream and enjoy the outdoors,” Williams explained.

To help things along the West Virginia DNR puts on a kids fishing event. The annual fishing derby is set for the Bowden Fish Hatchery in Randolph County. The event at Bowden gets started at 7 a.m. with registration and fishing for the youngest anglers starts at 8 a.m. and runs through noon.

DNR is actively engaged in recruitment and retention of anglers. Studies have shown the earlier children are exposed to outdoors pursuits, the more likely they are to make it a lifelong pursuit.

“That’s a big part of the DNR program is that recruitment and retention. It’s a big part of what we’re working on every day,” Williams said.

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West Virginia

Judge Jim Douglas sworn in to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Published

16 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Press Room

Judge Jim Douglas sworn in to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Wheeling, W.Va. (WTRF) – The newest member of the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals was officially sworn in this evening.

Judge Jim Douglas defeated Dan Greear back in the May election for a spot on the Mountain State’s second highest court.

Judge Douglas currently serves as a family court judge in Kanawha County for the 11th Circuit, 5th Division.

He has a great deal of experience in family law, having spent 10 years as a judge, and also nearly 40 years as a divorce lawyer.

“I think kids and families are the most important thing there are, and I’m going to carry that, and I hope to vindicate the faith that the people in the Northern Panhandle put in me. I hope to vindicate their belief that I can do the job. I hope to justify everything positive that they thought about my ability to be a judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals.”
Jim Douglas – Elected to West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals

Judge Douglas will assume office on January 1st of 2027.

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West Virginia

Moore says he’s honored being mentioned as possible U.S. Secretary of Labor – WV MetroNews

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Moore says he’s honored being mentioned as possible U.S. Secretary of Labor – WV MetroNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia Second District Congressman Riley Moore didn’t deny a recent report that he’s being considered as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor by President Donald Trump in an appearance Thursday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”

Riley Moore

Moore said he couldn’t confirm the report in Politico but did offer his opinion on the credibility of the report.

“The reporter cited some pretty credible sources; that’s about all I can say,” Moore said. “If it weren’t a thing, I would be able to tell you it’s not.”

Moore is in his first term in the U.S. House. He’s on the House Appropriations Committee and is a conferee for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch appropriations conference committees.

“I really can’t comment on it much further other than what I would say is it is certainly an honor to be mentioned in the conversation,” Moore said.

The House currently has four vacancies, 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one Independent, creating a margin so tight it’s possible Moore wouldn’t be appointed.

“If we decide to go in that direction, the President, Speaker, and I will discuss the tight margins here,” Moore said.

Moore also said two of his Community Project Funding requests for hospitals were approved by the House Appropriations Committee as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Requests for $1.5 million each for Grant Memorial Hospital and the Grafton City Hospital will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

“Every little bit helps,” Moore said. “Everybody knows how important it is to have functional hospitals, especially in a very rural state like ours,” Moore said.

Moore said the area is getting spruced up for the 250th birthday party for America. He also noted the “claw” is quite visible while motoring down Pennsylvania Avenue.

“The whole town is getting decorated—there are big flags for America’s 250th,” Moore said. Things are going up all over the place, and we drove by the White House, and they have, I think they call it the “claw,” that they have put in front of the White House.”

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