West Virginia

WSAZ Investigates | W.Va.’s Child Neglect Confidentiality Law

Published

8 months ago

April 25, 2024

WSAZ Investigates | W.Va.’s Child Neglect Confidentiality Law

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The recent death of a 14-year-old girl in Boone County prompted WSAZ NewsChannel 3 to take a closer look at the state law that the West Virginia Department of Human Services says requires it to keep quiet.

News of the fatality broke last week. Local authorities say the teenager had not eaten for months and was unable to function more than four to five days before she died.

Authorities also say the girl, who they believe was home schooled, had not been outside of the home more than two times in the last four years.

The teen’s mother was charged with child neglect resulting in death.

Mother arrested in connection with teen’s death

The Governor’s Department of Human Services, on Monday, issued a lengthy statement on the case on behalf of Child Protective Services. It says, in part, that such cases deserve “deliberative, thoughtful, and cautious,” assessment with careful respect for confidentiality.

A day later, Tuesday, NewsChannel 3 reporter Curtis Johnson asked Gov. Jim Justice, should that statement indicate that CPS had a history in that child’s life?

Justice said, “You know, Curtis, the CPS folks, from what I understand, had no idea about this child, no idea whatsoever.”

W.Va. Gov: CPS had ‘no idea’ of Boone neglect case

So, Johnson asked Human Services to verify the governor’s comment that CPS had no knowledge of the Boone County teenager.

Instead, a spokesperson directed Johnson to “carefully review” Monday’s lengthy statement

He did just that, reading not only the press release, but also the section of state law it referenced. It was there, Johnson found one subsection that says the department, in case of a child neglect fatality, shall make public information relating to the case.

So, Johnson asked the department for any information regarding the Boone County case, or an explanation if the department believed it could not provide information.

The spokesperson did not respond before 6 p.m. Thursday.

As a result, Johnson took that question to state Del. Heather Tully, R-Nicholas, reading her that specific section of code.

“If there is a child fatality or near fatality due to child abuse and neglect, information relating to a fatality or near fatality shall be made public by the Department of Human Services and provided to the entities described,” Johnson said to Tully. “How do you read that?”

“I believe that if a child fatality occurs or a near fatality occurs, then there should be some type of public information reporting,” she replied.

“It says information relating to a fatality or near fatality shall be made public,” Johnson asked. “You think that’s clear?”

“I think that’s very clear,” Tully replied. “I think the the term ‘public’ is very clear to probably anybody that interprets it.”

But it doesn’t stop there.

Even the department’s release acknowledged another section of that state law, which reads “information related to child abuse or neglect proceedings … shall be made available upon request to: Federal, state, or local government entities.”

Tully serves on the state’s Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, known by its acronym LOCHHRA for short.

“When you talk about federal, state or local government entities, you believe LOCHHRA is clearly a state entity?” Johnson asked.

“I believe that the Legislature is clearly a state entity,” Tully replied.

“Have you requested that information in similar cases?” he asked.

“I have not requested that information in writing,” she answered. “I have certainly made inquiry into certain cases that have happened before the Department of Human Services, only to be stonewalled and to be told that they can’t give us that information as a member of the LOCHHRA committee.”

WSAZ reached out to the Governor’s Office late Thursday afternoon to ask if he plans to direct the Department of Human Services to release any information it has as required by state code in a child fatality case.

WSAZ had received no response as of 6 p.m. Thursday.

Source link

Click to comment

West Virginia

Herd handle West Virginia Wesleyan for 30-point victory – WV MetroNews

Published

19 minutes ago

December 17, 2024

Press Room

Herd handle West Virginia Wesleyan for 30-point victory – WV MetroNews

— By David Walsh

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall broke free from an early 10-10 tie to build a 41-24 lead at the break, and the Thundering Herd steadily pulled away from West Virginia Wesleyan in the final 20 minutes to romp, 93-63, Monday night in front of 3,424 fans at Cam Henderson Center.

Mikal Dawson, a three-point wizard, nailed five more on the way to 19 points to lead Marshall. Obinna Anochilli-Killen added 14 and made 6-of-8 shots and also blocked two shots as did Wyatt Fricks. Nate Martin, Jalen Speer and Cade Gibbs finished with nine points each as first-year coach Corny Jackson went to the bench much of the second half.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Jackson said. “I’m most pleased with 30 assists and 12 turnovers. As a team, I look at the 30 and as a former point guard I always look at that number. Really pleased.”

The Herd (7-5) made its first four shots of the second half to open a 53-32 lead. From that point, the margin kept growing. The biggest of the night came at 35 (78-43) with 7:50 to play.

Jackson expressed pleasure with the Herd’s play after bolting from the 10-10 tie.

“They don’t play like that record (2-9) for coach (Derek) Sloan. They were pretty physical at the start. Once we settled in and matched their energy, physicality I was happy. We played team ball, shared the ball.”

Marshall made 37-of-67 shots and 13-of-32 from behind the arc. The home team chalked up 30 assists on the 37 shots made. The Herd last had 30 assists against UTSA in a game in 2016.

“Win one game is hard regardless of opponent,” Jackson said. “We’ll celebrate the win, we’re off Tuesday and Wednesday we get ready for Southern Miss. That’s just how it (schedule) fell. Play the cards we’re deal. We look forward to going down and playing a good Southern Miss team.”

In the check the boxes for meaningful stats, Marshall led points in the paint, 44-24; bench points, 37-18; and points off turnovers, 26-15.

Michael Batchelor led the Bobcats with 16 points. Curtis Litton added 11 for the Division II team which plays in the Mountain East Conference. The visitors did make nine threes.

In the first half, the Herd had bursts of 8-0 in the final 2:45 and 13-0 earlier in the half to open the big lead.

Marshall now leads the all-time series with West Virginia Wesleyan 31-13.

Source link

West Virginia

Mobile ID app coming to West Virginia

Published

8 hours ago

December 16, 2024

Press Room

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia has launched a mobile ID program allowing people living in the state to have access to digital versions of their drivers license or ID.

Everett Frazier, commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), said, “The benefit is everyone carries one of these. Not everybody, people forget their wallet. We are going to still issue the little plastic drivers license that everybody is accustomed to.”

Frazier says this app does not eliminate the need for the physical ID.

“I’m sure this will one day catch on and it will be the only thing you need, but for now you are still going to need the little plastic card.”

The mobile ID pilot program began on Dec. 10 and is progressing smoothly.

“Within, I would say a few months, it should be available to the great citizens of West Virginia,” Frazier said.

With the app, residents can store and manage their ID credentials on their cell phones.

“We’ve already tested it with TSA. It works. So at airports, it’s the future and we are just preparing for the future,” Frazier said.

After the piloting phase, the mobile ID app will be available to everyone in late December.

Click here to sign up and be notified when the app is ready for everyone.

Source link

West Virginia

Frisco Bowl – #25 Memphis vs. West Virginia: How To Watch, Preview, Time/Date, Storylines

Published

16 hours ago

December 16, 2024

Press Room

Frisco Bowl – #25 Memphis vs. West Virginia: How To Watch, Preview, Time/Date, Storylines

After reaching the ten-win mark for the second consecutive year, the Memphis Tigers cracked the College Football Playoff Rankings at #25 heading into the bowl season. Ryan Silverfield’s Tigers head to the Lone Star State this week to face a middling Big 12 opponent in the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Frisco Bowl matchup.

#25 Memphis Tigers (10-2, 6-2 AAC) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (6-6, 5-4 Big 12)

Date: Tuesday, December 17

Time: 9 PM ET // 8:00 PM CT

Location: Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX

TV: ESPN

Betting Line: Memphis -4.5 on FanDuel

Storylines

Seth Henigan’s Final Game With The Tigers

Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan’s illustrious time with the Tigers will come to an end following the conclusion of the Frisco Bowl.

In four years with Memphis, Henigan has thrown for 13,972 yards and 102 touchdowns on 1,129 completions. If he throws two touchdowns in the bowl game, he will tie the AAC record for career touchdown passes. Henigan already broke the AAC record for career passing yardage earlier this year.

Memphis’ Bowl Game Win Streak

Memphis have yet to lose a bowl game under head coach Ryan Silverfield. The program has reached postseason eligibility every year since 2014.

The Tigers have won each of their last three appearances in bowl games dating back to 2020. That season, Memphis took down Florida Atlantic in the 2020 Fenway Bowl. Then in 2021, Memphis qualified accepted an invitation to the Hawaii Bowl, but the game was eventually cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigers bounced back with wins in the 2022 First Responder Bowl and the 2023 Liberty Bowl.

Changes at West Virginia

Following a 6-6 record in the regular season, West Virginia parted ways with head coach Neal Brown. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott will be the Mountaineers’ head coach in the interim. However, WVU will reunite with Rich Rodriguez for 2025 and beyond, after Rodriguez led Jacksonville State to back-to-back nine-win seasons in their first two years as an FBS program. Rodriguez previously went 60-26 in seven seasons as the WVU head coach from 2001 to 2007.