West Virginia

West Virginia bill proposes $1 cigarette tax to fund EMS

Published

4 days ago

February 3, 2026

West Virginia bill proposes cigarette tax to fund EMS

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – As West Virginia faces an unprecedented collapse of ambulance services, Senator Tom Takubo has introduced Senate Bill 639, which would create a $1 user fee on cigarettes dedicated entirely to supporting emergency medical services throughout the state.

The bill would impose a $1 user fee on each 20 cigarettes (or in like ratio on any partial package). All revenue generated from the fee would be directed to a special state fund created specifically to support emergency medical services operations.

The bill would amend the state’s Tobacco Products Excise Tax Act and add new sections to the West Virginia Code defining how the fee operates and where the revenue flows.

The fee is conditional on counties meeting certain requirements: they must have continuously provided emergency medical services on a county-wide basis in the past 12 months and maintain an operational emergency medical services levy.

The need for funding is urgent. At least 26 ambulance services have shut down in West Virginia in just the last two years.

The most recent closure was Hillsboro EMS in Pocahontas County, which shut down in May 2025. Hillsboro EMS cited funding problems and a lack of volunteers as reasons for the closure. The service could no longer afford volunteer training, equipment, and supplies — or meet state regulations.

All revenue collected from the $1 cigarette user fee would be deposited into a special Emergency Medical Service Agency Fund within the State Treasury. The funds can only be expended to support emergency medical services in counties that meet the eligibility requirements.

Any balance in the fund, including accrued interest, remains in the fund for continued EMS support.

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West Virginia

Fugitive sex offender arrested in Kentucky for failure to register as a sex offender – WV MetroNews

Published

12 hours ago

February 6, 2026

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Fugitive sex offender arrested in Kentucky for failure to register as a sex offender – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –U.S. Marshals have arrested a fugitive sex offender wanted in West Virginia.

David Scott (Photo: U.S. Marshals office)

David Mark Scott, 53, of McCarr, KY, who is originally from Charleston, WV. was arrested Wednesday.

According to a release, Scott was wanted by the West Virginia State Police for failure to register as a sex offender. He was also wanted by the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office for a probation violation.

In July 2020, he was convicted in Mingo County Circuit Court of possession of child pornography and was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The release stated he had not registered as a sex offender since August 2020.

The U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force, Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force, West Virginia State Police, and Kentucky State Police all assisted in the investigation and arrested.

Scott is currently being held at the Pike County Jail, awaiting extradition back to West Virginia.

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West Virginia

West Virginia leaders stand behind ICE despite judges’ orders to release detainees

Published

24 hours ago

February 6, 2026

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West Virginia leaders stand behind ICE despite judges’ orders to release detainees

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Two federal judges in the Southern District of West Virginia have now ruled that immigrants were illegally detained in West Virginia jails, and they may not be the only ones.

They’ve released four people, noting that the law is clear: All persons present within our country are entitled to due process.

More than 600 people allegedly in the United States and West Virginia illegally were taken into custody last month. The actions by Judges Joseph Goodwin and Thomas Johnston come as Congress debates new restrictions on federal immigration officers.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito said that Democrats’ demands for new restrictions on ICE are “unrealistic,” even in the wake of violence and two deadly shootings in Minneapolis.

There’s concern the Department of Homeland Security will shut down next week if Democrats don’t work with Republicans and the White House. Democratic congressional leaders have come out with an expanded list of 10 detailed proposals.

West Virginia’s other Republican Senator Jim Justice backs ICE, but concedes mistakes have happened.

“As far as ICE in general, I think they’re doing a great job, but right behind all that and everything, you’ve got mistakes that are being made,” Justice said. “I just mentioned the body cameras, but we’re going to have to address other issues, because we don’t want bad things to happen to good folks. What we want to have happen is bad things happen to bad folks. I think there’s other issues and I absolutely believe in transparent investigations. We’ve got to stand there. I mean, come on.”

The immigrants from several countries contended they ended up in the regional jail because their due process rights were violated. ICE conducted a 15-day January enforcement action in West Virginia producing 650 arrests.

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West Virginia

America 250: Wheeling’s Independence Hall marks birthplace of West Virginia

Published

1 day ago

February 5, 2026

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America 250: Wheeling’s Independence Hall marks birthplace of West Virginia

West Virginia remains the only state to have seceded from another in U.S. history, with its journey to independence rooted in the Northern Panhandle.

Deep within the walls of West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling runs a decision that changed Virginia’s history forever.

In the 1860s, Western Virginia lawmakers were not on the same page as those in Richmond — and sought out to become a separate state.

And that’s where Independence Hall plays a part.

“Wheeling was the second largest city in the state of Virginia at the time, and it needed a custom house that was service to the Ohio River because Wheeling was a port of delivery,” Independence Hall site manager Debbie Jones said.

Considerably the most famous area in the building is the third-floor courtroom. There, Gov. Harrison Pierpont signed the state’s constitution in 1862.

Along the way, though, leaders first considered another name: Kanawha.

“And they decided most people don’t know how to say it, let alone spell it, so they decided to keep the name of the mother state, which was Virginia,” Jones said.

So, West Virginia was born.

On June 20, 1863, the Mountain State seceded from Virginia and embarked on its own journey.

Jones says with a new state, came a new culture — a culture that began in Wheeling.

“I always say West Virginia, we don’t have beaches, we don’t have professional sports teams, amusement parks, but we have us. We have our people,” she said.

Today, Independence Hall tries to preserve the power that it holds, from hosting political events to the state’s history bowl and its annual birthday celebration on West Virginia Day.

“Come on down and see what’s in your own backyard,” Jones encouraged. It’s the only birthplace of the state of West Virginia.”

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